Indian-origin man jailed for sexually assaulting woman on UK train
London (PTI): A 39-year-old Indian-origin man has been jailed for 16 weeks and placed on the sexual offenders register for seven years after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman while travelling on a train from Birmingham to London.
Mukhan Singh, from the Sandwell area of the West Midlands region of England, was arrested for the crime en route at Leamington station back in 2021. He entered his guilty plea at Warwick Crown Court last month and was sentenced recently.
"This was a brazen and targeted attack on a young woman who was travelling on her own and had every right to a safe journey," said Detective Constable (DC) Harris, the Investigating Officer in the case.
"Instead, she was violated by Singh, who then had the audacity to claim she had 'wanted' it in his police interview. I am pleased to see the court hand down a custodial sentence, which will allow Singh plenty of time to reflect on his unacceptable actions," he said.
According to a local media report in 'Warwickshire World', the court heard how, in September 2021, the victim, a woman in her twenties, was on a train travelling from Birmingham Moor Street station to London Marylebone when Singh began to stare at her from a nearby table seat. Singh later sat next to the victim in the aisle seat, blocking her in, before sexually assaulting her.
The victim recorded footage of Singh as he prepared to leave the train at Leamington Spa before reporting what happened to a member of staff. Singh was stopped at the station, and police were called. He was arrested by officers at the station and taken to police custody.
After his arrest and during his police interview, the accused claimed that the victim "wanted something done to her".
"We take all reports of sexual offences seriously and will support victims throughout our investigations as we work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice," added DC Harris.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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