In a deeply disturbing incident that has sparked widespread outrage across social media, a suspicious man wearing a burqa entered the compartment reserved for women in a Central Railway local train in Mumbai, triggering panic among passengers. The man allegedly touched several female passengers before being confronted. Before the train halted at Ghatkopar, he jumped off, escaped and boarded another train. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has filed an FIR against the man who remains absconding as of Sunday.
What Happened: The Disturbing Sequence of Events
The episode unfolded on Friday afternoon aboard a fast local train heading towards Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). Women travelling in the second-class ladies’ coach grew suspicious of a co-passenger wearing a burqa and questioned the individual.
According to reports in Marathi media, the man, wearing a burqa, entered the ladies’ compartment and touched several women. When some passengers grew suspicious of his behaviour, they decided to confront him.
During the exchange, it was discovered that the person was a man. Passengers reportedly confronted him over boarding the ladies’ compartment and wearing the burqa.
They confronted him, questioned him, and some of them recorded videos on their phones. The situation escalated moments later when the train slowed near Ghatkopar. As the train reached the station, the suspect suddenly jumped off onto the platform.
The Dramatic Escape
What makes this incident even more alarming is the brazen escape:
In an attempt to escape, the man jumped from the moving coach before it halted, ran across the tracks, and boarded a Karjat-bound train from another platform.
The woman subsequently reported the incident to the police at Ghatkopar. An investigation was launched, but checks of CCTV footage and a physical search of the Karjat train at Mulund station failed to locate the suspect, who had already disembarked.
Legal Action: FIR Filed, Manhunt Underway
A case regarding this incident has been registered by the Railway Protection Force at Ghatkopar under Section 162 of the Railway Act. The RPF has registered the case under the Indian Railway Act for unauthorised travel in a ladies’ coach.
The police are also examining CCTV footage to trace the movements of the man. Senior police officer of Kurla GRP Sambhaji Yadav said that the GRP and RPF have joined forces to investigate the matter.
Possible Connection to Chain Snatching Case
In a chilling revelation, police are investigating a potential pattern:
A similar incident of chain snatching was reported at Ambivali last month, where the suspect was also said to have been wearing a burqa. The incident was reported to the Kalyan GRP police station. The police are now also investigating whether these two incidents are connected and have given assurances to the passengers that the search for the suspect continues.
Public Reaction: Outrage & Calls for Better Safety
The viral video has triggered massive outrage online, with netizens demanding:
- Stricter security checks in ladies’ compartments
- Better CCTV monitoring in local trains
- Swift action against the accused
- Safety awareness for female commuters
Comments include:
- “This is terrifying. Women can’t even feel safe in reserved compartments.”
- “How did CCTV fail to track him? Railways need better surveillance.”
- “Jumping from a moving train to escape shows criminal intent—not a mistake.”
- “Connecting this to the chain snatching case is scary. Is this a serial offender?”
Safety Advisory for Women Commuters
In light of this incident, authorities and safety experts advise:
- ✅ Stay alert to suspicious co-passengers
- ✅ Don’t hesitate to confront or raise an alarm
- ✅ Record evidence on phone if safe to do so
- ✅ Report immediately to RPF helpline: 182 or 139
- ✅ Travel in groups during non-peak hours
- ✅ Use Railway’s “Rail Madad” app for instant complaints
Mumbai Local Train: Safety Concerns Rising
Mumbai local trains carry approximately 85 lakh (8.5 million) passengers daily. These local trains have reserved coaches for women, senior citizens, and differently-abled passengers. However, incidents like this raise serious questions about the effectiveness of these reserved spaces.
This incident comes amid a series of safety concerns on Mumbai’s suburban railway network, prompting calls for increased RPF presence, better surveillance, and stricter penalties for offenders.
