Alarming Rise in Sexual Assault Cases on Southern Railways: Kerala in Focus

A recent report from Southern Railway has highlighted a concerning trend: a staggering 83.4% of sexual assault cases involving female passengers have occurred in Kerala. These incidents, totaling 261 out of 313 cases recorded between August 2020 and August 2023, have taken place both on trains and at railway stations. The Southern Railway network, spanning Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, has become a hotspot for such crimes. Notably, Mumbai has reported the highest number of incidents, including murders and 895 cases of robbery. Disturbingly, 163 female passengers faced sexual assault, 249 were robbed, and 17 individuals were attacked.

Regrettably, the safety measures for female passengers in Kerala remain inadequate, with only 38 women police officers stationed at railway stations. Additionally, the implementation of the ‘Mary Saheli’ (My Friend) scheme, designed to assist women traveling alone, is yet to be realized.