CRITICAL CONDITION: Allegedly molested woman jumps from moving train in Bihar

Patna, Jan 3 (IANS) A young woman was battling for her life in Bihar Thursday after jumping from a moving train after two men allegedly molested her, police said. One of the accused, a soldier, has been arrested.

Patna Railway Superintendent of Police Suresh Choudhary said the victim was seriously injured when she jumped out of the Delhi-bound Brahamputra Mail between Bihta and Ara stations.

“The Government Railway Police with the help of passengers caught one of the accused at the Buxar railway station,” Choudhary told IANS over telephone.

He said the arrested man was a soldier in the Indian Army.

The critically injured woman is said to be from Darjeeling in West Bengal and boarded the train at Guwahati in Assam, a police official said.

Choudhary said police were yet to record the victim’s statement as she was in serious condition.

The incident took place on a day the Bihar Police chief called for speedy trials of cases involving rape and “eve-teasing,” which is a euphemism used in India for public sexual harassment or molestation.

Inspector General of Police Arvind Pandey said all district superintendents of police and railway superintendent of police had been told to expedite investigation and file chargesheets at the earliest.

“The state government has made it clear to police officials to deal seriously with rape and eve-teasing cases,” he told the media.

As of October 2012, 482 cases of rape and 183 cases of harassment of women were pending in Bihar.

Pande said the Bihar government was serious in setting up such courts, and soon.