Pantry car employee raped woman on moving train:Blue shirt clue led to accused; survivor refused to identify him in court

In the first part of Madhya Pradesh Crime Files, you read that on the cold night of February 11, 2022, the Sampark Kranti Express was passing through tunnels and dense forests between Itarsi and Nagpur. Most of the passengers in the AC coach were asleep when a young woman, scared and shaken, came running. According to the case details, most passengers in the AC coach were asleep when the woman, visibly terrified, ran into the compartment. Her clothes were torn, her hair disheveled, and she appeared deeply traumatized. Two passengers present in the coach helped her, after which she revealed that she had been sexually assaulted. She said a strongly built man wearing a blue shirt had beaten her, assaulted her, and threatened to kill her. Police alerted; probe begins with limited clues A co-passenger immediately informed the Government Railway Police (GRP). As soon as the train reached Bhopal, police registered an FIR. However, the only initial lead was the description of the accused—particularly the blue shirt. Survivor’s journey: From dreams to trauma The woman had left for Mumbai from Delhi on February 9, hoping to build a future in the city. She reached Mumbai the next day but struggled due to a lack of contacts and accommodation. Frightened by warnings from strangers that the city was unsafe, she decided to return within 24 hours. Assault in pantry car after being lured away On February 11, she boarded the train from Bhusawal towards Delhi. Around 8 pm, after the train entered Madhya Pradesh, she lay down on the floor of the AC coach due to the lack of a confirmed seat. At that point, a man approached her, scolded her for lying there, and told her to move to the general coach. He then forcibly took her out of the coach and dragged her towards the pantry car, where he raped her. When she resisted, he slapped her and threatened to throw her off the moving train. ‘Blue shirt’ becomes key clue The incident occurred between Harda and Itarsi. By the time the complaint surfaced, the train was nearing Bhopal. GRP and Railway Protection Force (RPF) launched an immediate investigation. Since many onboard staff, including vendors and attendants, wear blue uniforms, the police examined the duty roster. This led them to a suspect—Bhupendra Singh Tomar, a pantry car employee. Medical and DNA evidence confirm crime The accused was taken into custody. Initially, the survivor could not identify him due to the darkness but later confirmed his identity. Medical examination established sexual assault, and DNA samples from the accused’s undergarments matched the survivor’s samples, strengthening the case. Survivor turns hostile in court; evidence secures conviction After the investigation, a chargesheet was filed in court. During the trial, the case took a dramatic turn when the survivor refused to identify the accused in court. Later, she stated that the accused had pressured her into a compromise through threats. Despite this, strong medical and forensic evidence ensured conviction. The First Additional Sessions Court in Itarsi found Bhupendra Singh Tomar guilty of rape, assault, and criminal intimidation.