Seeing the victim in the deserted women's compartment, the accused tried to rob her.

But when she resisted, he smashed her head against the wall and then pushed her out of the train just as it left Vallathol Nagar station.

Govindachamy also jumped out, carried his seriously injured victim to a deserted area and raped her.  

Soumya, who battled for her life for six days, succumbed to injuries on February 6.

While some passengers in an adjoining compartment had heard her cries, none had come forward to help her.  

Criticising the attitude of the passengers, the bench held it was “disgustful”.

Had they offered a helping hand, this untoward incident could have been avoided, it said.