Title - Stone pelting at trains on the rise

Sometimes innocense can lead to great harm and damage. This ‘innocense” of slum children residing in and around railway stations has introduced them to  a ‘fun game’ — pelting stones at running trains.

Stone pelting on running trains, especially in and around the areas of Cantonment Railway Station, Byappanahalli, Banaswadi, Whitefield and Hebbal has been giving sleepless nights to the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Last year alone, 15 cases of stone pelting came to light.

The RPF has taken this offence very seriously and is all set to kick-start a massive campaign to curb this menace. Apart from campaigning, they will also not hesitate to arrest the offenders as testimony to the fact are the figures of last year where the RPF conducted 13 raids and six people were even arrested in connection with it.

Speaking to City Express, S Louis Amuthan, senior divisional security commissioner, RPF said, “There are many slums in and around Cantonment Railway Station, Byappanahalli, Whitefield and Hebbal. The slum children indulge in such ‘fun’ activities, ignorant of the effect of stone pelting on passengers or the driver on the train which is speeding at  100 kilometres per hour.”

From January to December 2012, four cases of stone pelting came to light in Cantonment area alone. While in Byappanahalli, a staggering eight cases were registered. Similarly in Whitefield, two cases and lastly in Hebbal, one case of stone pelting was recorded.