With every passing day, women’s safety is becoming a major issue to focus on. In a horrific incident, a 20-year-old woman was sexually assaulted by eight looters inside the moving Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express train on Friday evening.
The newly married woman was gang-raped in front of her husband and other co-passengers. The horror took place between Igtapuri and Kasara stations at around 7 pm.
“When the train was about to leave the station, eight persons boarded it. As the train was on its way to Mumbai, the eight men, with the help of knives, belt and blades, threatened the passengers and robbed them. While nine passengers were robbed of cellphones, the men stole cash from six others and sexually assaulted the woman. When the woman’s husband and a co-passenger intervened, the robbers assaulted them with weapons,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil.
“The woman who was sexually assaulted was sent for medical examination. The report is yet to arrive. Her statement was recorded, after which she went home,” said another officer.
The eight accused are booked under Section 395 (dacoity), Section 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), Section 376 (D) (gangrape), Section 354 (molestation) and Section 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Railway Act.
They had looted property worth Rs 96,390 and the police have recovered property worth Rs 34,200.
