Railway Police Detain Man at Sanpada Station After Koparkhairane Video
The Vashi Railway Police took a 23-year-old man from Wardha into custody at Sanpada railway station around 2 a.m. on Saturday following a six-hour search triggered by a viral video showing him repeatedly approaching and staring blankly at women commuters at Koparkhairane railway station. Railway police launched a suo motu search after a commuter posted the video online on August 8, raising significant safety concerns among women commuters.
To track down the individual, railway police officers scanned approximately 100 CCTV cameras covering station premises and deployed specialized police teams across multiple railway stations from Panvel to Koparkhairane. Photographs of the man were also circulated across police communication groups to assist officers in identifying him on the ground.
Investigators discovered that the man had been staying on a footpath in Ulhasnagar and wandering between different locations. As part of the six-hour search operation, police teams checked surrounding areas, railway station premises, and local places of worship where the man was suspected to have sought shelter.
The video footage depicted the man randomly approaching women on the platform at Koparkhairane railway station and staring blankly at them. Kiran Undre, senior police inspector at Vashi Railway police station, confirmed that the recorded behavior raised immediate safety concerns and prompted the Commissioner to take suo motu action to trace him.
After being traced to Sanpada railway station at 2 a.m. on Saturday, the man was taken into custody and sent for an immediate medical examination as well as a mental-health assessment. According to police statements, his mother informed investigators during questioning that her son had been experiencing mental-health issues for the past two years.
Police officials stated that his behavior was considered potentially dangerous to members of the public. Legal action is currently being initiated under Section 23 of the Mental Healthcare Act. Officers added that an official medical opinion will be sought as part of the ongoing proceedings before he is produced before a court.
