Sleeping railway cop suspended for failing to stop molestation bid

The woman, who was allegedly molested on a Borivli-bound local train, would have been spared the ordeal if a GRP constable had fulfilled his duty. Instead, Devendra Shinde, oblivious of the terror awaiting the victim, continued sleeping at Churchgate station and the train departed without the constable who was supposed to guard the north-end ladies coach. Shinde has now been suspended and an enquiry has been ordered against him.

The police said that Shinde was on duty since late Friday and was the last train to Churchgate where he slept and then missed the first train on Saturday.

“We have suspended Shinde and an enquiry has been ordered under an assistant commissioner of a police-level officer, following which strict action would be taken against Shinde. Similar actions, which also involve a fine of Rs 500 on the constable found guilty, have already been taken against at least 312 policemen in a time of a year,” said B Shirsat, deputy commissioner of police (GRP).

The accused 28-year-old Devraj Hanumantrao Kanka, who is married with two kids, had spent the night with a sex worker and was returning home to Kurla’s Bail Bazar. “He has cases of chain snatching and bag-lifting registered against him with the Kalyan GRP. Kanka was drunk and claimed that he could not resist himself when he spotted the woman alone. The incident, however, left her traumatised and she could be pacified only after the commuters and policemen brought her to the police station,” said Rajendra Trivedi, senior inspector of Mumbai Central GRP. The officials have also sought the CCTV footage of all the three Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi and Lower Parel stations for further clarity on the incident.