Minor who'd smack women in locals to get their cellphones held

The Government Railway Police (GRP) has caught a 17-year-old boy after he allegedly smacked a woman standing on the footboard of a local with a bamboo stick and scooted away with her cellphone. The police say the teen has assaulted many women travelling close to train doors to steal phones.

On Wednesday, 23-year-old Kalyan resident Dhruvita Singh was travelling from Kalyan to CSMT in the 8.01 am ladies special local. When the train was between Masjid and Sandhurst Road railway stations, Singh was standing near the door, speaking on her phone, when she was struck on her hand. She lost balance and tumbled out of the train while another local was crossing the adjacent tracks. The accused, who had been standing by a pole along the tracks, fled with the phone. Singh was rushed to hospital.

A case under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 394 (causing hurt for robbery) and 397 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at CSMT GRP station and the police launched a hunt for the accused.

GRP DCP Samadhan Pawar said, "We tracked down the accused after getting a tip-off. Upon his interrogation, we learnt he sold the cellphone to a woman, who has also been arrested."

"We learnt that the boy would stand near poles along the tracks and routinely targeted commuting women. The cases were never reported," said Pawar.

IN REMAND HOME

• The 17-year-old offender has been sent to Dongri remand home.