MUMBAI — A 20-year-old Muslim woman, identified as Sufia Shaikh, lost her left hand after she was allegedly molested and pushed out of a local train by a man at Naigaon railway station in Mumbai on November 4.
The accused has been identified as Jitendra Hirmukhe, 53, a resident of Wakipada in Naigaon East. The Bhayandar Railway Police arrested him after examining CCTV footage from multiple locations and booked him on charges of attempted murder and molestation.
Sufia was travelling from Borivali to Virar on November 4 when the accused, who was in the same compartment, allegedly attempted to touch her inappropriately as the train reached Naigaon station.
According to her complaint, when she resisted, the accused continued abusing her, triggering an argument. Despite other passengers intervening, he allegedly continued hurling abuses and throwing his slippers at her.
During the ensuing scuffle, the accused allegedly pushed Sufia out of the coach with both hands while the train was standing at the platform. She fell onto the railway tracks between two coaches.
As she attempted to climb back onto the platform, the train began moving, crushing her left hand under its wheels.
A police officer and some passengers rushed to rescue her as she lay bleeding profusely. However, doctors were forced to amputate her left hand because of the severity of her injuries.
The accused allegedly fled the scene after covering his face with a handkerchief. However, railway police tracked him down and arrested him after examining CCTV footage from multiple locations.
Demanding justice and the strictest punishment for the accused, Sufia has said that she has lost her limb and, with it, the ability to work and earn her livelihood as she did before the incident.
The incident has once again raised serious questions about women’s safety on Mumbai’s suburban local train network, particularly the safety of women travelling alone.
