In a shocking violation of safety, a 25-year-old woman faced a horrific ordeal aboard the Santragachi Special Express. Traveling solo from Rajahmundry to Hyderabad, she was assaulted in a ladies’ compartment while en route between Guntur and Pedakurapadu stations.

HYDERABAD: A 25-year-old woman was allegedly raped and robbed at knifepoint in the ladies’ compartment of the Santragachi Special Express (Train No. 07222), while she was travelling from Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh to Cherlapally on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Oct 13. According to police, the incident took place on the moving train – between Guntur and Pedakurapadu stations – six stations from where the survivor boarded around 2pm.On reaching her destination on Oct 14, she filed a complaint with the Secunderabad railway police, who registered a zero FIR. The case was subsequently transferred to the AP police. Police said the survivor, belonging to Rajahmundry in east Godavari district, boarded the train to return to Hyderabad where she works as a domestic help. She was alone in the ladies’ coach when the train stopped at Guntur station around 7.05pm.An unidentified man, roughly 40 years old, dressed in a black shirt and grey trousers, entered the coach despite her attempts to stop him. “She told him that it was a ladies’ compartment, but he cited tremendous rush in the other compartments, and requested her to let him inside for a short journey,” an official of the railway police said.In her complaint, the survivor claimed that the accused, soon after entering the compartment, latched the door from inside. “He threatened her with a knife and raped her. He also punched her multiple times, injuring her face and other body parts,” said inspector B Sai Eshwar Goud of the Secunderabad govt railway police (GRP). He added: “After committing the heinous crime, the perpetrator robbed her of 5,600 in cash and a mobile phone before jumping off the train as it slowed down while approaching the Pedakurapadu railway station.”The survivor continued her journey to Cherlapally, and reported the incident to the railway police. “Based on her complaint, we have registered a zero FIR under Sections 64 (rape) and 309 (4) (robbery) of the BNS, and sent her for medical examination to Gandhi Hospital. The case has been transferred to the Nadikudi railway police station in AP for further investigation,” the inspector said.Police are verifying CCTV footage at the Guntur railway station to identify and arrest the accused.(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assaul)