A shocking incident of violence unfolded on a busy suburban train in Navi Mumbai on Thursday morning, resulting in the arrest of a 50-year-old man for attempted murder. The accused, appearing disoriented, allegedly pushed an 18-year-old college student from a moving train after forcibly boarding the ladies' coach.
The Incident on the Panvel-CSMT Train
The incident occurred on the 7:59 am Panvel-Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) train. The victim, identified as Shweta Mahadik, a resident of Usarli village in New Panvel, was traveling to her college in Kharghar with a female friend. They had boarded the ladies' coach at Panvel station.
At the same time, the accused, Shaikh Akhtar Nawaz, also entered the ladies' compartment. Women commuters immediately objected to his presence and asked him to alight. However, Nawaz was reluctant to get down, and as the train departed from the station, a heated verbal argument broke out between him and the women.
A Violent Push and the Fall
The situation quickly escalated from a verbal spat to physical violence. Nawaz turned aggressive and pushed Shweta Mahadik, who was standing near the coach's footboard pole. The forceful push caused her to fall off the moving train onto the tracks.
Alert women passengers immediately contacted the railway helpline. Acting on the information, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel detained Shaikh Akhtar Nawaz at the next stop, Khandeshwar station.
Rescue, Medical Examination, and Arrest
The victim fell on the tracks approximately 1.5 kilometers from Panvel railway station. A GRP team walked along the tracks to locate her but found she had already been helped by locals. They learned that some residents had taken the injured teenager to a nearby private hospital.
A police officer visited the hospital and found Mahadik there. Fortunately, she did not sustain major external injuries. As a precaution, doctors conducted a CT scan and X-ray to check for internal injuries. She was later discharged and taken home by her parents. Her parents informed the police on Friday that she had developed a mild fever in the morning, likely due to the trauma.
Vijay Tayade, Senior Inspector of Panvel GRP, stated that an FIR was registered against Nawaz under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) section for attempted murder. He was also charged under relevant sections of the Indian Railways Act for traveling without a proper ticket and for entering a compartment reserved for women without a lawful excuse.
During interrogation, Nawaz appeared disoriented. He was taken to JJ Hospital for a medical examination, where doctors opined that he seemed mentally disturbed. The accused claimed to be homeless and usually resided in the Khar-Bandra road area.
Shaikh Akhtar Nawaz was produced before a Panvel city court on Friday morning, which remanded him to police custody for three days. The GRP plans to send a team to Khar and Bandra areas with his photograph to trace his family or relatives.
