On-duty Army jawan accused of raping woman in empty train coach in Ranchi

An Army jawan has been arrested for allegedly raping a 22-year-old woman at Tatisilwai Railway Station in Jharkhand’s Ranchi district, officials said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Thursday evening around 5.30 pm when the woman was waiting to board a train to Ranchi.

According to the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the accused jawan, aged 42, was deployed on duty to guard a defence logistics train at the station. He allegedly took the woman to an empty coach of a stationary train and sexually assaulted her. Officials said the jawan was reportedly in an inebriated state at the time of the incident.

The woman’s cries for help alerted people present at the railway station, who raised an alarm. Following this, railway police and RPF personnel rushed to the spot. The accused attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief chase and sustained minor injuries during the process, officials said.

The accused is a resident of the Sarha police station area in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district and is posted with the 42 Medium Regiment, currently stationed in Patiala, Punjab.

Based on the woman’s statement, an FIR was registered by the railway police, and an investigation was initiated. On Friday, the accused jawan was produced before a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody.

Officials said further investigation is underway, and necessary legal proceedings will follow in accordance with the law.