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During the period from 1st July to 31st October, 2004, 30 incidents of dacoity were reported in various trains including Himgiri Express over Indian Railways. On October 6, 2004, at about 0730 hours an incident of dacoity was reported in Himgiri Express between Lakhi Sarai and Hathidah Railway Station. Two miscreants were apprehended by the passengers with the help of local people and cash Rs. 500/-, one mobile phone and one gold chain was recovered from their possession. This train was not escorted by Government Railway Police (GRP)/ Railway Protection Force (RPF). Railway Protection Force escorts are deployed in trains in co-ordination with Government Railway Police to supplement them.
In order to improve safety and security of passengers by trains, the RPF Act, 1957 has been amended to enable RPF to effectively supplement the efforts of the GRP of the State Governments in controlling crime. As such, RPF escort parties, as far as possible are deployed for escorting of important trains, withdrawing the staff from various scheduled duties to assist GRP in improving the law and order situation, actively with effect from July 1, 2004. Approximately 1288 train escort parties of RPF are deployed daily for this purpose in addition to strengthening security in railway premises to supplement the efforts of the GRP. Deployment of RPF is done without interfering with the “Policing” responsibilities of the State Governments in maintaining law and order.
Recruitment to fill up the vacancies of the RPF has been expedited.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri R. Velu a written reply to a question from Shri Hemlal Murmu in the Lok Sabha today.
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