Swift action: Manipal police nab train harassment accused in record time

Team Udayavani, Aug 29, 2024, 8:52 AM IST

Udupi: In a swift and effective operation, the Manipal police arrested Mohammad Shuraim (22), a resident of Bhatkal, within 20 hours after he allegedly sexually harassed a young woman on a train. The arrest was made solely based on a photograph provided by the victim.

Incident Details
The young woman, a resident of Guddeyangadi in Udupi, who works in IT in Bengaluru, boarded a train from Bengaluru to Murudeshwar on the night of August 24.

On the morning of August 25, after the train passed Mangaluru, the accused repeatedly harassed her. Following a brief confrontation, during which the accused apologized, the woman discreetly took a photo of him and reported the incident via a railway app. Upon arrival at the Udupi railway station, she also lodged a complaint with the railway police.

The case was then transferred to the Manipal police, and the district police superintendent, Dr. K. Arun, quickly mobilized the team for action.

Investigation and Arrest
The police, led by Circle Inspector Devaraj T.V., and assisted by PSI Raghavendra, ASI Vivek, and staff members Imran, Raghu, and Vidya, worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspect. The victim’s photo was the only clue they had.

Using the image, the police obtained a list of 1,200 passengers who traveled in the same coach. Suspecting the accused to be Muslim due to his attire, they narrowed down the list to Muslim passengers and then cross-referenced their mobile numbers with the CCTV footage from various stations.

The investigation revealed that the accused was a resident of Bhatkal. Acting swiftly, the police traveled to Bhatkal and took him into custody.

It was discovered that the accused had recently completed a 10-day course in Mysuru and was returning home. He has since been presented in court and placed in judicial custody.