23-year-old from Assam held for attempting to sexually assault woman on train; RPF ASI injured in attack

TIRUR: A 23-year-old man from Assam was arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for allegedly attempting to sexually assault a woman during a train journey. The accused has been identified as Pankaj Dolai, a native of Barbaruah. An RPF assistant sub-inspector (ASI), Sasi, was injured when the accused allegedly attacked him at the RPF outpost.

The incident took place around noon on Wednesday when the Coimbatore-Mangaluru train was travelling between Shoranur and Pattambi stations. The accused, who was standing near the toilet, allegedly grabbed the woman by the hand and tried to drag her inside when she approached the area.

Two passengers intervened and rescued the woman. They restrained the accused and alerted the Tirur railway police. When the train reached Tirur, RPF personnel took the accused to the outpost.

The accused allegedly became violent at the outpost and attacked the ASI. He also allegedly struck the officer on the head with a baton. Tirur police later arrived and took the accused into custody.

The woman has not filed a complaint in the case. Police registered a case based on the ASI’s complaint. The injured officer is undergoing treatment at Tirur District Hospital. The accused was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.