Mumbai: In two separate cases of sexual harassment, a 10-year-old girl and a 17-year-old college student were groped at Kurla railway station and Dadar railway station on Monday. The Government Railway Police (GRP) made arrests within 24 hours in both instances and produced the accused before a sessions court.
Incident at Kurla Station
The first incident occurred around 3 pm at Kurla station, where the 10-year-old girl was playing by herself on the staircase of a foot overbridge. Her mother and aunts were waiting on the platform nearby. According to police, the accused approached the child and sexually harassed her. The girl raised an alarm and immediately ran to her mother. When the accused attempted to flee up the stairs, the mother realized what had happened and chased him. Bystanders joined the pursuit and apprehended the suspect. He was beaten before being handed over to the police. The accused was identified as Mujibul Khalil Shaikh. He has been booked under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
Incident at Dadar Station
In a separate case, a 17-year-old college-goer was groped at Dadar station around 8:45 am. Police stated that the accused, who was under the influence of alcohol, walked toward her and touched her inappropriately. The girl was too shocked to react immediately. By the time she called her mother, the assailant had fled. She then approached the Mumbai Central GRP chowky and filed a complaint. Police reviewed CCTV footage from the station and identified the suspect. They tracked him down within 24 hours and arrested him. The accused was identified as Mohammad Firoz Khan (26). He has also been booked under the Pocso Act.
The swift action by the GRP in both cases highlights the effectiveness of rapid response and the use of surveillance technology in apprehending offenders. Authorities have urged commuters to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior immediately.
