Mumbai: A sessions court in Mumbai ruled that a man who threw a stone from a moving train, injuring a constable at Sewri station in 2012, acted recklessly and endangered public safety. However, taking into account his young age at the time, the court chose not to sentence him to prison. Instead, it imposed a nominal fine of Rs 500, stating that it would sufficiently serve the ends of justice.
The accused, Mehtab Siddiqui, a resident of Mankhurd, was 20 years old at the time of the incident. He was found guilty of throwing a stone from a moving local train that struck Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable Mahindra Ahire on the face, causing a cheek injury. On the same day, another RPF head constable, Hemant Choudhari, was hit on the leg by a stone at GTB station, reported Times of India. Although both injuries were caused in a similar manner, only Ahire could later identify Siddiqui in court.
Details On The Incident
According to the report citing prosecution's remarks, on July 6, 2012, Ahire was on duty on platform 1 of Sewri station when a young man in the last luggage compartment of a passing local train shouted and hurled a stone at him. The stone struck Ahire just below the right eye, leaving him injured. Though he tried to chase the assailant, the train sped away. Ahire completed his duty before reporting the incident at the RPF office in Wadala. There, he learned that another constable had been injured by a stone from the same train. Both victims described the attacker similarly.
Ahire later filed a formal complaint with the Wadala railway police and was sent to St. George Hospital for medical evaluation. A month later, on August 11, while patrolling Sewri station, Ahire recognised Siddiqui and had him detained. Siddiqui was arrested but released on bail three days later.
During the trial, witnesses included both constables, the investigating officer and the medical officer. The defence argued that no stone was seized as evidence. However, Additional Sessions Judge V.G. Raghuwanshi dismissed the argument, noting that the incident occurred in a crowded area and the injured constable was in no condition to recover the stone.
Siddiqui was convicted under IPC sections 332 (causing hurt to deter a public servant), 337 (causing hurt by endangering life), and 353 (assault on a public servant). Still, the court opted for leniency, imposing only a fine due to his youth at the time of the offence.
