Varkala train assault: Victim remains in critical condition; Women’s safety concerns reignited

Thiruvananthapuram: A brutal assault on a young woman aboard the Kerala Express near Varkala on Sunday night has reignited concerns over women’s safety on trains, 14 years after the Soumya case that shocked the state.

The victim, identified as 22-year-old Sreekutty, is in critical condition in the intensive care unit of Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. She sustained severe head injuries and a fractured skull after being pushed off the moving train.

Police said the accused, Suresh Kumar (50) from Panachamoodu in Thiruvananthapuram, allegedly pushed Sreekutty out of the general compartment of the Thiruvananthapuram-bound Kerala Express around 8.30 pm on Sunday. Sreekutty had reportedly returned from the toilet when the attack occurred.

After pushing her, the accused allegedly attempted to assault her friend Archana, but other passengers intervened, preventing further harm. The women had been returning home after visiting Sreekutty’s husband in Aluva.

Suresh Kumar reportedly told police he attacked Sreekutty in anger after being asked to move away from the door, though witnesses did not report any major argument. He also admitted to being under the influence of alcohol. However, he kept changing his statements. Police have registered a case of attempted murder, and the accused was remanded in custody on Monday night.

Health Minister Veena George has directed that a medical board be constituted to ensure Sreekutty receives the best possible treatment. Her mother, Priyadarshini, who arrived from Bengaluru, alleged that her daughter was not initially given adequate medical attention.

Police attempted to record the victim’s statement on Monday but were unable to do so due to her condition. Doctors said she remains in a critical state.

The incident has renewed debate over the lack of safety measures for women on trains. Despite a Kerala High Court directive to position women’s compartments in the middle of trains, many continue to be placed at the end.

The High Court had also recommended deploying two armed women police officers per compartment, introducing a panic button system, and strengthening communication channels for security alerts, measures that remain largely unimplemented.

A 2013 committee led by then MLA Mons Joseph had proposed forming a dedicated Kerala Police unit to ensure passenger safety on trains, but the plan was never executed. Calls for a comprehensive state-level passenger safety strategy have also gone unheeded.