A 35-year-old man has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a Mumbai local train, police said on Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday when the victim, a TB patient, was returning home with her father in a local train after a hospital visit, The accused, travelling on the same train, molested and kissed her.

The accused, whose identity has been withheld, attempted to flee after committing the crime but was thrashed by fellow travellers. He has been hospitalised. Once he is discharged, the railway police are likely to arrest him.

The Mumbai Central Railway police station inspector, Monali Gharte, said, “The accused has a previous history of committing similar crimes. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, he relocated to Mumbai a few years ago and resides in Kamathipura. An addict, he sells clothes on footpaths or roadsides. However, the police are waiting for the doctor's report.” The police didn't clarify the substance he abused.

The man has been booked under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage modesty) and 354 (A) (sexual harassment), as well as the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act provisions 8 (committing sexual assault) and 18 (attempting to commit an offence).

(With UNI Inputs)