Mumbai: 48-year-old man arrested for harassing woman booking clerk at Mira Road station

The accused, identified as Ashlam Anwar Khan (48), allegedly called the clerk a “thief” and threatened her. PIC/ X

A 48-year-old passenger was arrested for allegedly using abusive and derogatory language against a woman booking clerk of Western Railway (WR) at Mira Road Railway Station on the Mumbai suburban line.

The incident took place on September 4, when a dispute over a ticket transaction escalated into a verbal assault by the accused, Ashlam Anwar Khan.

The clerk, in her complaint, stated that Khan used abusive and derogatory language and made inappropriate personal remarks against her. He also questioned her intentions for taking his phone number during the argument, the complainant claimed further.

In a video, the accused can be seen telling the clerk, "Are you scared? Why did you take my number? Give me your number. Are you going to call me? How dare you touch my private property?"

Khan, a resident of Mira Road East, also allegedly called the clerk a "thief" and threatened her.

The incident was partially recorded by the complainant on her mobile phone, and additional evidence was later retrieved from the CCTV footage at the station.

After the incident came to light, the crime prevention and detection squad of Railway Protection Force (RPF), Mumbai Central Division, swung into action and tracked Khan to Bhayandar, using surveillance footage.

On Wednesday, RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel apprehended Khan from Bhayandar. During interrogation, he reportedly confessed to harassing the clerk, following which the GRP registered a first information report (FIR) under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and placed him under arrest at Vasai Road.

A Western Railway official, speaking to mid-day.com, said, "The WR employee was spoken to in a very disrespectful manner by a person who came to her ticket counter. The employee had filed a complaint regarding the matter. The accused was identified and the case was handed over to the RPF for further action."