3 drunk army jawans held for molesting on train

Three drunk army personnel were arrested by Government Railway Police (GRP) from the New Delhi-Sikkim Mahananda Express on Monday night for allegedly sexually assaulting a co-passenger, a 25-year-old student from Darjeeling.

The army jawans were arrested from Khagaria, around 100km from Patna, after GRP was alerted by their counterparts in Barauni.

The three jawans – identified as Deep Chandra Roy, Pradeep Thapa, and HK Gurung – were remanded in judicial custody on Tuesday after a local court rejected their bail application.

Incidentally, the three accused also hail from Darjeeling and are attached to the Gorkha Regiment. They were travelling to their place of posting in Srinagar, police said.

GRP sources said quoting other passengers, who were eyewitness to the incident in an AC three-tier compartment, that the three jawans first passed comments at the girl and then tried to physically assault her.

When other passengers objected, one of the jawans allegedly brandished a 'khukri' – a traditional weapon -- to threaten them.

"The incident took place between Barauni and Begusarai railway stations. However, by the time the GRP got the information and reached Begusarai platform, the train had left for Khagaria," said Barauni rail DSP Lal Babu Yadav.

Medical tests on the accused confirmed that they were in an inebriated state.

"They have been charged under sections 354, 323, 504 and other sections of IPC," the DSP added.

Coach attendant Ajay Biswas too confirmed the incident to police.