The great train robbery
According to a recent report, railway crimes are on an alarming rise. With issues regarding jurisdiction and shortage of ticket checkers, is there a solution in sight?
The sudden spurt in crimes committed in the Indian railways over the last three years has raised serious questions about the safety of more than two crore commuters who travel daily. Maharashtra is the worst victim of railway crimes, followed by Uttar Pradesh.
As per a recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, crime in trains has seen an upsurge over the past three years with thefts and robberies being the the major crimes committed against passengers.
An analysis of NCRB data reveals that, in 2008, 13,468 cases of theft were reported and in 2009, 14,469 cases were reported across the country. The latest figure for 2010 stood at 15,273, representing an increase every year.
Maharashtra reported 3,326 cases of theft in 2008 and the number rose to 3, 461 in 2009. However, during 2010 there was a drop and the figure stood at 3,354.
Railway security officials, however, remain defensive. PS Rawal, Inspector General (IG) Crime, Indian Railways, said, "The number of trains as well as volume of passenger traffic is increasing day by day. To fill up existing vacancies and newly created posts in the Railway Protection Force (RPF), a massive recruitment drive is being launched by notifying 11,952 posts of constables and 511 posts of sub-inspectors, out of which, 10 per cent vacancies have been reserved for female candidates."
VN Mathur, former member, traffic, Railway Board, said, "The rise in crime is mainly because of problem in jurisdiction. It becomes difficult to control the situation as the trains pass through different states. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has all the necessary authority for ensuring safety to the passengers but the entire responsibility does not lie on them alone."
The NCRB railway crime report also reveals an escalation in robberies in trains. The number of robberies across the country, in 2008, was 318. It rose to 426 in 2009 and jumped to 509 during 2010. Maharashtra had 63 cases of robbery in 2008 and the number rose to 82 in 2009, the latest figure being 105 for year 2010.
The cases of crime in railways are reported to, registered and investigated by the Government Railway Police (GRP). The Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying escorts in important trains in affected areas and performing access control duties at important railway stations. However, as of 2010, there were 13, 480 vacancies in the RPF alone.
Commenting on the reason for the increase in crimes, Mathur said, "Railways have a huge problem because of the shortage of Ticket Checkers (TTs). Many unauthorised people go unnoticed and this results in criminal activities."
Is there any solution in sight? Rawal said, "An amendment to the RPF Act to enable the force to deal with the passenger-related offenses effectively is the need of the hour. An integrated security system should be implemented to strengthen surveillance mechanism over sensitive stations of the Indian Railways."
According to a recent report, railway crimes are on an alarming rise. With issues regarding jurisdiction and shortage of ticket checkers, is there a solution in sight?
The sudden spurt in crimes committed in the Indian railways over the last three years has raised serious questions about the safety of more than two crore commuters who travel daily. Maharashtra is the worst victim of railway crimes, followed by Uttar Pradesh.
As per a recent National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report, crime in trains has seen an upsurge over the past three years with thefts and robberies being the the major crimes committed against passengers.
An analysis of NCRB data reveals that, in 2008, 13,468 cases of theft were reported and in 2009, 14,469 cases were reported across the country. The latest figure for 2010 stood at 15,273, representing an increase every year.
Maharashtra reported 3,326 cases of theft in 2008 and the number rose to 3, 461 in 2009. However, during 2010 there was a drop and the figure stood at 3,354.
Railway security officials, however, remain defensive. PS Rawal, Inspector General (IG) Crime, Indian Railways, said, "The number of trains as well as volume of passenger traffic is increasing day by day. To fill up existing vacancies and newly created posts in the Railway Protection Force (RPF), a massive recruitment drive is being launched by notifying 11,952 posts of constables and 511 posts of sub-inspectors, out of which, 10 per cent vacancies have been reserved for female candidates."
VN Mathur, former member, traffic, Railway Board, said, "The rise in crime is mainly because of problem in jurisdiction. It becomes difficult to control the situation as the trains pass through different states. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has all the necessary authority for ensuring safety to the passengers but the entire responsibility does not lie on them alone."
The NCRB railway crime report also reveals an escalation in robberies in trains. The number of robberies across the country, in 2008, was 318. It rose to 426 in 2009 and jumped to 509 during 2010. Maharashtra had 63 cases of robbery in 2008 and the number rose to 82 in 2009, the latest figure being 105 for year 2010.
The cases of crime in railways are reported to, registered and investigated by the Government Railway Police (GRP). The Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying escorts in important trains in affected areas and performing access control duties at important railway stations. However, as of 2010, there were 13, 480 vacancies in the RPF alone.
Commenting on the reason for the increase in crimes, Mathur said, "Railways have a huge problem because of the shortage of Ticket Checkers (TTs). Many unauthorised people go unnoticed and this results in criminal activities."
Is there any solution in sight? Rawal said, "An amendment to the RPF Act to enable the force to deal with the passenger-related offenses effectively is the need of the hour. An integrated security system should be implemented to strengthen surveillance mechanism over sensitive stations of the Indian Railways."
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