THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 25-year-old woman was allegedly sexually harassed and assaulted by a fellow passenger aboard the Malabar Express in Kerala on Tuesday while travelling to work in Thiruvananthapuram.
The 39-year-old accused was arrested by the Thampanoor Railway Police. He is to be booked under Sections 74, 75, 115 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, relating to assault or criminal force against a woman, sexual harassment, voluntarily causing hurt and acts endangering personal safety.
According to the police, the woman had boarded the train at Chirayinkeezhu, as she routinely does while commuting to work in the city. She initially thought the repeated touching by the man was due to the crowd in the train, but later realised that it was deliberate.
The accused allegedly continued to obstruct her as she tried to get off the train. When she warned him that she would report the matter to the police, he allegedly assaulted her, leaving her unconscious. She fell onto the platform during the attack.
The woman, who works in the public relations department of a prominent hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, told the media that the man hit her in the face and kicked her off the train onto the platform. He allegedly attempted to kick her again before people at the station intervened, restrained him and handed him over to the police.
Police said a previous case had also been registered against the accused at Attingal.
(With inputs from media reports)