Police arrest man for attack on MBBS student

Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai police have arrested a man from Shilphata area, who had allegedly attacked and robbed a 19-year-old medical student and pushed her off a moving train near Juinagar railway station a week ago. The man allegedly admitted to the act, according to the police. Before committing the crime, he had “partied” with friends and then entered the train compartment to return home, they said.

On Saturday night, 19-year-old Rituja Bokade had boarded the women’s compartment of the Panvel-Vashi local train at 11.30pm and was alone in the compartment when accused Santosh Kekan attacked her.

According to the police, when the incident occurred on Saturday night, Kekan got down at Mansarovar station and got into the ladies compartment. He was with his friend Vipul Patil. Police found CCTV footage from which they saw the main accused got down from an Innova car which belongs to Patil. After looting the girl and jumping off the train, the accused crossed the tracks and went towards the Sion-Panvel highway.

DCP Samadhan Pawar (GRP) said, “We questioned Patil and informed the Kalyan team to nab the accused from his residence in Shahad. But Kekan fled the spot upon learning about the police plan. On Tuesday, we received information that he is hiding near Shilphata area and we laid a trap and arrested him. He has confessed to his crime. We are still interrogating him about why did this.”