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[nahia]

VIJAYAWADA: A Railway Police Force (RPF) constable allegedly attempted to rape a physically challenged girl in a running train on Friday.

With the victim not willing to lodge a complaint, it took nearly 12 hours for the police to get a report from other passengers and register a suo motu case. The incident took place in Visakhapatnam-bound Tirumala Express between Bapatla and Ponnur railway stations in Guntur district.

Confirming the incident, railway DSP K Krishnarjuna Rao said that a case under Section 354 of IPC (outrage of modesty of woman) has been registered against the RPF constable, D Narayana.

Narayana, who is working at Vijayawada, was reportedly on escort duty in the women passengers' bogey during the late hours of Thursday. He reportedly followed the 18-year-old physically challenged girl when she went to toilet and assaulted her. When the girl shouted for help, other passengers came to her rescue. In the meantime, the cop made good his escape.

The passengers pulled the chain and alerted the guard. The guard and other passengers brought the incident to the notice of the GRP at Vijayawada when the train reached the station.

"We will send the accused cop behind bars," said the DSP. The victim was part of a 12-member physically challenged group which was returning to Vizag after offering prayers in Tirumala on March 28. The victim is a native of Vizag.

Ch Satya, president, Physically Handicapped Welfare Association, urged police for strict action against the cop. She along with other members staged a dharna in Vizag railway station protesting the cop's action.