Pregnant woman pushed out of moving train during bid to sexual assault in Tamil Nadu

Pregnant woman pushed out of moving train in Vellore district, suspect arrested by Government Railway Police.

A 36-year-old pregnant woman was pushed out of a moving train near Katpadi in Vellore district when she resisted an attempt to sexually assault her on Thursday (February 6, 2025) night. A 31-year-old history-sheeter was arrested by the Government Railway Police (GRP), Jolarpet early on Friday over this incident.

According to the police, the victim, a native of Chittoor in A.P, is a four-month old pregnant woman living with her husband, a tailor, and her son in Tiruppur for many years. She does tailoring work from home for private textile units in the district. As she is pregnant, she decided to go to her mother’s house in Chittoor. She boarded the Coimbatore - Tirupati Intercity Express train alone on Thursday night.

Police said that the accused Hemanth, a native of Pooncholai village near K.V. Kuppam in Vellore, boarded the train at Jolarpet railway station. He reportedly watched her going to the toilet, followed her and attempted to sexually assault her. When she screamed for help, Hemanth allegedly pushed her out of the moving train at K.V. Kuppam near Katpadi in Vellore district.

In the impact, the woman suffered fractures in her hand and leg, and sustained an injury to her head. Immediately, co-passengers alerted the railway control room and rescued the injured victim, who was later admitted at Government Medical College and Hospital in Vellore where doctors said that her condition is stable. She will return to normalcy in about 3 - 4 days, they added.

Police said that the accused was let out on conditional bail only a few months ago in a case related to the murder of a 29-year-old woman from Chennai in April 2024. He also has another case registered by Jolarpet GRP police in 2022 for pushing a woman commuter after snatching her mobile phone from a moving train. He was also charged under the Goondas Act twice.

Based on orders of the Superintendent of Police (GRP - Chennai), two special teams led by Katpadi Inspector Ruvanthika were formed. Later, police nabbed the accused Hemanth from his native Pooncholai village. A case has been registered. An investigation is underway.