Daijiworld Media Network - Vasai

Vasai, Nov 13: A 20-year-old woman lost part of her left arm after a 53-year-old man allegedly pushed her onto the railway tracks at Naigaon station while she was resisting his molestation attempt. The accused was arrested five days after the incident, which occurred last week.

The accused, identified as Jitendra Hirmukhe, has been booked for molestation and attempt to murder and is currently in judicial custody. The woman is undergoing treatment at a civic hospital in Mumbai.

According to the complaint lodged by the woman, who got married just five months ago, she had travelled to Malad on November 4 to purchase a mobile phone. She reached Malad station in the evening but, finding the trains overcrowded, travelled to Borivli station and boarded a slow local train heading towards Virar.

The woman told police that the train was also crowded and she mistakenly entered the compartment reserved for persons with disabilities. A man allegedly kept pushing her repeatedly, which she initially ignored. However, when the train reached Bhayander station, he allegedly began touching her inappropriately.

Around 7.15 pm, both the woman and Hirmukhe got down at Naigaon station, where she confronted him over his behaviour. However, the accused allegedly touched her inappropriately again and defiantly asked her, "What difference does it make?"

Angered by his response, the woman removed her slipper and threw it at him. Hirmukhe allegedly abused her, took off his own slipper and hit her with it.

The train was still standing at the platform when several passengers gathered to intervene. Suddenly, Hirmukhe allegedly pushed the woman, causing her to fall onto the tracks into the gap between two coaches.

As she attempted to climb back onto the platform, the train began moving. She fell into the gap, and her left arm came under the train's wheels, resulting in it being severed below the elbow.

The accused fled from the spot. The woman was initially taken to a hospital in Vasai and later shifted to a Mumbai hospital for further treatment.

The Bhayander railway police examined CCTV footage from the station and traced the accused to his residence in Wakipada, Naigaon East. He was arrested on November 9. Hirmukhe originally hails from Dharashiv district.

"He has stomach cancer and was travelling in the compartment reserved for persons with disabilities. We traced him with the help of CCTV footage and arrested him from Naigaon," said Ganpat Tumbada, senior inspector of Bhayander railway police.

Initially, police registered a case under Sections 74 (molestation), 117(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 352 (intentional insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 109 (attempt to murder) was subsequently added.

The woman has demanded the strictest punishment for the accused.

"Despite having done nothing wrong, I had to go through this ordeal. I have permanently lost one of my arms... I want justice," she said in her statement.

GFX: Three train-related deaths in less than a year

2026

August: A 62-year-old differently-abled man, Cajetan Denis Pires, was allegedly pushed to his death by a co-passenger, Amajad Safruddin Shaikh (48), from a moving train between Mahim and Bandra stations following an argument over seating. Shaikh, who was able-bodied, was travelling in the compartment reserved for persons with disabilities. An argument reportedly broke out after Pires asked him to leave the coach.

June: Mayank Lohar (22) was allegedly stabbed to death by co-passenger Roshan Suvarna (30) in a local train between Goregaon and Kandivli stations. The two reportedly argued over whether the train doors should be closed as it was raining.

February: A bystander lost an eye after being hit by a stone allegedly flung by a commuter during a dispute between him and another passenger on a local train in Bandra.

January: Alok Singh (32), a mathematics lecturer, was allegedly stabbed to death by co-passenger Omkar Shinde (27) following an argument over the right of way inside a compartment.

2025

September: Commuter Suresh Patil (47) suffered facial injuries after a co-passenger allegedly threw a wrench at him following an argument.

June: A doctor couple travelling on a Nanded special train was attacked by a thief near Kurla during an alleged robbery attempt. During the ensuing struggle, both doctors fell off the train and sustained serious injuries. One of them lost his left arm.

**2018**

February 7: Dravita Singh (23) fell off a moving local train between Sandhurst Road and Masjid stations after being struck by a suspected 'fatka' robber. Three fingers, a toe and part of her right foot were crushed under another train. She underwent multiple surgeries and skin grafts before she was able to walk again.