Communal Tension In Palghar After Advocate Assaulted & Partially Disrobed On Mumbai-Indore Avantika Express Over Religious Symbols; 2 Arrested

Palghar: A woman traveling aboard the Mumbai-Indore Avantika Express was allegedly assaulted, molested, and partially disrobed in a shocking incident that unfolded late Saturday night in the train’s general compartment near Palghar.

About The Case

The victim, identified as Advocate Sheetal Sharad Bhosale, was reportedly traveling to bring back her son, Abhimanyu, who studies in Indore and had returned home for the summer break. The attack, which reportedly stemmed from a dispute over religious symbols, has led to the arrest of two co-passengers, a woman and a man, and ignited communal tensions in the region.

With no reserved seats available, Bhosale, a resident of Thane, was seated in a general coach. During the journey, a male passenger, under the influence of alcohol, was creating nuisance and harassing co-passengers.

Amid this chaos, a burqa-clad woman sat beside Bhosale and suddenly began accusing her of stealing a purse she claimed had gone missing. Bhosale denied the accusation and suggested it might have been lost in the ongoing scuffle. However, upon returning from the washroom, Bhosale allegedly saw the woman going through her belongings. When questioned, the woman accused Bhosale of stealing money from her purse and physically attacked her.

The conflict further escalated when the female co-passenger objected to the religious symbols Bhosale wore, a rudraksha bracelet and a bangle engraved with the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Bhosale alleged that the woman remarked, “Wearing rudraksha is nonsense,” to which she responded, “Do I say anything about your burqa? Then why are you offended by my beads?” The verbal spat quickly escalated.

As the train approached Saphale station around 9:45 pm, the verbal altercation turned violent. The woman allegedly pulled down Bhosale’s pajama in an attempt to humiliate her, then attacked her with a sharp object, believed to be a blade. Bhosale raised her arm to protect herself and sustained a deep wound. A male accomplice, believed to be the same intoxicated passenger, reportedly joined in, assaulting her with a key aimed at her neck.

Despite her repeated cries for help, Bhosale claimed that a home guard stationed at Vapi railway platform failed to respond. Only after she contacted the railway helpline did personnel from the Valsad Railway Police intervene. Both accused, identified as Rubina Yunus Pathan and Imtiyaz Amitbhai Odia, were detained, and Bhosale was taken to Valsad Medical College Hospital, where she received eight stitches for her injuries.

As the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of Maharashtra, the suspects were transferred to Palghar Police on Sunday morning, where a formal complaint was filed. ACP Dnyaneshwar Ganore of the Government Railway Police (GRP), Vasai division, confirmed the arrests. The duo faces multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code, including attempt to murder, molestation, assault, criminal intimidation, and theft.

The incident has since triggered communal tensions in Palghar. Right-wing groups gathered at the local railway station to protest, prompting the deployment of additional police forces to maintain law and order.

Bhosale further alleged that the accused tried to stop bystanders from recording the incident and that she was surrounded by several people during the attack, indicating an atmosphere of intimidation and mob behavior.

The Railway Department has yet to issue an official statement on the incident and did not respond to multiple calls from The Free Press Journal.