Alert RPF personnel foils rape bid

A passenger in an inebriated condition attempted to rape a 25-year-old woman on a moving MRTS train in Chennai on Monday night, but the alleged accused was immediately secured by an alert RPF personnel.

The victim, who is from Vyasarpadi in north Chennai, fell asleep in the ladies compartment of the Velachery-Chennai Beach train but was shocked to find Satyaraj, 26, very close to her and trying to rape her. The alert woman immediately raised an alarm following which Sivaji, a personnel of the RPF, rushed to the compartment and saved the woman.

The incident took place as the train was moving from Chinthadripet to Park station. The accused is working as a private security personnel.

Police said the accused was in an inebriated condition was immediately taken into custody. The victim has been sent for medical examination and is said to be very stressed due to the incident.

“The victim is doing fine and we have recorded her statement. She wants the accused to be punished as per law. I appreciate her for the alertness that she exhibited that helped her save from being assaulted,” Pon Manickavel, Inspector General of Railway Police, told reporters on Tuesday morning.

He said after hearing the screams, the RPF personnel immediately overpowered the accused and saved the victim. “The victim who fell unconscious with bleeding lips and torn clothes was rushed to Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital for treatment in an ambulance from where she was taken to Egmore Maternity Hospital,” Manickavel said and announced a personal reward of Rs 5,000 for his “brave act.”