In a special drive conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) last month, 84 people were arrested for stone-pelting on running trains and 2773 individuals were apprehended for trespassing. The move came amid concerns about rising incidents of stone pelting which posed as a threat to the safety of passengers.
“The RPF observed a sudden surge in incidents of stone pelting on running trains, which posed a serious threat to the safety and security of travelling passengers,” the statement read.
Leaflets were distributed among the public and pamphlets and notices were published in newspapers to raise awareness against the menace of stone pelting.
The RPF also took various other measures including supplementing deployment at black spots, train escorting and a drive to detain trespassers leading to the apprehension of 2773 people under several provisions of the Railways Act.
The railway force also arranged special coordination meetings with the police, intelligence agencies and other law enforcement bureaus in this connection which led to the arrest of the stone pelters.
“The Railway Protection Force is dedicated to ensuring the safety and security of railway passengers, and the success of this month-long special drive is a testament to its unwavering commitment to this mission,” the Railway Ministry statement said.
It said that the RPF will continue to undertake similar initiatives in the future to maintain security across all platforms in the Indian Railways.
In the recent past, stone pelters have attacked the new Vande Bharat trains within days of its launch. Such incidents have been reported from Delhi, West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar and Chattisgarh among others.
The South Central Railway has issued a statement declaring stone pelting on trains a criminal offence and that strict action will be taken against the miscreants who commit this action under Section 153 of the Railways Act.
