RailEnquiry

The recent spurt in crimes in trains and on railway premises in the jurisdiction of the government railway police (GRP) covering Pune, Daund, Kurduvadi, Solapur, Miraj and Ahmednagar highlights the dismal security scenario, besides creating a sense of insecurity among commuters.Cases of crime registered and investigated by the GRP in running trains and on railway premises across these areas have increased by nearly 29% during January to March this year as compared to the same period last year.Shortage of staff in the GRP and over 80 posts lying vacant in the railway protection force (RPF) affect vigilance, say officials.A senior GRP official told TOI that the GRP, Pune, has a total strength of 500 men, out of which some are deployed for patrolling on platforms, in trains and at stations and a few for anti-dacoity points. This is one of the reasons why crime cases have shot up.According to him, about 25 men in plainclothes from departments such as the local crime branch as well as surveillance officers (also called the anti-drugging squads) board trains at random (during periods when the crime trend is highest) from the Pune railway station to detect all types of crimes.About 40 of GRP's uniformed constables patrol trains running in different directions from the Pune railway station, said the official. "In addition to this, 40 constables patrol the platforms at the Pune railway station. Manpower also has to be spared for providing security to VIPs travelling almost every alternate days from the Pune railway station. The number of personnel needed to escort the VIPs depends on their security category. Frequent mock drills also use up many GRP's personnel."The official said that negligence on the part of passengers has also led to an increase in crimes, especially drugging cases, which involve administration of drugs to the victims and robbing them off their belongings.The GRP registered 92 crimes during the first three months of 2011, which increased to 129 between January and March this year. A total of 462 crime cases, including murder, robbery, molestation, drugging, thefts, rape and kidnapping were reported in trains and on railway premises in 2011 as against 436 cases in 2010, which translates to nearly 6% increase.Total crime cases in 2008 were 452, which increased to 540 in 2009. This number dipped to 436 in 2010, but registered a 6% increase in 2011 with 462 crimes, including three murders, seven cases of dacoity, seven cases of robbery, 13 cases of drugging, four cases of molestation, three cases of kidnapping and as many as 391 thefts.A break-up of crimes registered in 2008 in the GRP jurisdiction showed two murders, two attempt-to-murder, four dacoities, ten robberies, five cases of rioting, 11 drugging, one rape, three molestation and 378 cases of theft.In just three months this year, beginning January, the GRP registered 105 cases of theft in trains and railway premises, three cases of robbery, one assault, one rape and a case of molestation.There are as many as 168 railway stations in the Pune railway jurisdiction of the GRP and 235 platforms. The 168 stations fall under the jurisdiction of six railway police stations - Pune, Daund, Kurduvadi, Solapur, Miraj and Ahmednagar. The cases of crime are reported to, registered and investigated by the GRP. The RPF supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying escorts in some trains and stations in the Pune division.An RPF official said, "Out of the 400 posts, including that of constables, hawaldars, sub-inspectors and the like, approved by the government for the Pune division, 80 posts are vacant. Thus, six railway stations and trains operating from there have to be manned by just 320 personnel from RPF. This is too small a number and we need at least 150 personnel more."The GRP official said that there are dacoity-affected areas between Daund and Kurduvadi railway stations such as Jindi, Parewadi, Pophlaj, Dhawlaj and Washimbe. "There are such areas between Daund and Ahmednagar railway stations too. GRP personnel from the local railway police stations in these regions as well as forces from head-quarters patrol stations falling in between these junctions," he said.When contacted, divisional railway manager Vishal Agarwal said there was regular checking at the stations and in trains. "There are around 40 CCTV cameras at different locations at the Pune railway station. The entry and exit of passengers via the parcel office gate has also been stopped. A wall has been built to prevent unauthorized entry," he said.
Harsha Shah, a member of the railway users' group, said, "The CCTV cameras cannot focus on all the directions. There are thousands of people on the platforms doing various things. It is practically impossible to keep a check on all of them. The recent spurt in crime can be attributed to the onset of the holiday and marriage season when people travel and carry valuable jewellery. Thieves know whom to target and when."