Kalyan Railway Rape: Jobless Man Arrested for Assaulting Minor
A 21-year-old unemployed man, Saurabh Sonawane, has been arrested by the Kalyan Government Railway Police (GRP) for allegedly coercing a 14-year-old girl into accompanying him to the secluded and dimly lit Kalyan railway yard and raping her. The incident occurred on Saturday, prompting swift action from law enforcement.
Details of the Incident
According to GRP officials, the victim, a resident of Ahilyanagar, arrived at Kalyan station around 5 pm on Saturday. She was waiting on a platform to board a train to Khopoli, where her uncle resides. In her complaint, the girl stated that the accused, Saurabh Sonawane, approached her and struck up a conversation. Midway through their talk, he allegedly snatched her mobile phone. When she pleaded for its return, Sonawane intimidated her and claimed she needed to accompany him to the Kalyan GRP station to retrieve it. Instead, he led her to the railway yard, a secluded and poorly lit area, where he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
Swift Arrest by GRP
The Kalyan Government Railway Police, in coordination with the Railway Crime Branch, launched an immediate investigation. By scanning CCTV footage from the platforms and the yard area, they identified Sonawane and tracked him down within hours of the crime. He was arrested without incident. Senior Police Inspector Pandarinath Kande of Kalyan GRP confirmed that the accused is currently unemployed and has a prior case of assault registered against him at Kolsewadi police station. The GRP has booked Sonawane under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Concerns Over Passenger Safety
This incident has once again highlighted the dire state of passenger safety, particularly for women and minors, within railway premises. In a similar case from June 2011, a 17-year-old girl was raped by three unidentified men on Kalyan station premises while her male friend was held hostage at knifepoint. Authorities urge passengers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity immediately.
The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy, as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault.
