A 14-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped at Kalyan railway station in Thane district on Saturday evening, the Government Railway Police (GRP) said. The GRP arrested a 23-year-old man in connection with the assault after receiving a complaint, police officials said on Sunday.

According to the GRP, the accused brought the minor to Kalyan railway station at about 5 pm and sexually assaulted her on the station premises. The incident came to light when station personnel or commuters alerted the police; the GRP moved quickly to detain the suspect and begin an investigation, officials said.

Senior inspector Pandhari Kande of the Kalyan GRP said the accused has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including sections 137(2) (kidnapping) and 64(1) (rape), along with other relevant charges. Further legal and forensic procedures are underway, the inspector added.

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The GRP did not disclose the places of residence of the accused or the victim, citing the ongoing investigation and the minor’s privacy. Authorities are expected to produce the accused before a magistrate and may seek custody for further questioning. Medical examination of the victim and collection of forensic evidence were being arranged, officials said.

Railway stations in India have frequently been sites of safety concerns, prompting calls from rights groups and commuters for improved surveillance, better lighting, and increased patrolling by railway police. The police have urged anyone with additional information or eyewitness accounts of the incident to come forward to assist the investigation.

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