Western Railway’s Railway Protection Force (RPF) is tasked with the responsibility of security of railway property, passenger area and passengers has been working round the clock for providing safe, secure and comfortable travel experience to the passengers. It has also become a crucial stakeholder in the national security grid by playing important roles in internal security, maintenance of law and order and providing bandobast during national and state elections.
According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway (WR), RPF has carried out several special initiatives, drives and operations in 2021-22 to help passengers with their lost belongings, providing safe travel experience, saving lives of passengers, taking strict action against touts, miscreants, putting criminals behind bars, etc. RPF jawans also played an important role, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. RPF escorted 92 Oxygen Special Trains from originating station to destination, ensured the implementation of COVID-appropriate behaviour as per the protocols, etc. In January 2022, RPF personnel saved lives of two persons without any care for their own safety, going far and beyond their call of duty.
Mission Women Security & Child Rescue
The novel “Meri Saheli” initiative has been providing security to lady passengers in long distance trains particularly travelling alone. RPF has deployed “Meri Saheli” teams at major stations of WR.
Other preventive measures to ensure security of lady passengers like train escorting, CCTV system at 95 stations and about 189 coaches, lady escorts in ladies’ special suburban trains, regular drives against unauthorized passengers in ladies’ coaches, etc. are also being implemented.
WR RPF has reunited more than 73 children with their families till now which were rescued with follow up action in coordination with Child Help Desk. In the month of January 2022, WR RPF also arrested 49 criminals involved in offences against passengers and handed the mover to concerned GRP/Police.
WR RPF apprehended 39 persons involved in crimes with the recovery of stolen Railway Property worth INR 1,22,370 in January, 2022.
Action against Touts
During coronavirus pandemic, limited operation of passenger trains were restored and to maintain the rush in the trains to implement COVID-19 protocol, only passengers having reserved accommodation in trains were allowed to travel. This provided touts a golden opportunity for running the business of procuring and selling of reserved ticket on premium rates illegally. To curb this crime, RPF acted swiftly and made sustained drive against such menace throughout the month and registered more than 43 cases with arrest of more than 46 offenders. Future journey tickets cornered by these touts illegally to the tune of INR 1,66,019 were also forfeited from them.
Making travel comfortable for Elderly, Women & Divyangjans
RPF has been constantly providing assistance to the persons in need of help, particularly senior citizens, sick people, pregnant ladies, persons with disabilities & women passengers with a humanitarian approach.
To ensure their safe travel, RPF has apprehended more than 493 persons unauthorisedly travelling in the coaches reserved for ladies and 789 persons from the coaches reserved for persons with disabilities during the year 2021.
Operation Amanat
In 2021, WR RPF retrieved left behind luggage having value to the tune of more than INR 35,12,504 belonging to 204 passengers and returned to them after due verification. RPF has been doing this service to passengers under “Operation Amanat”.
Thakur stated that RPF personnel acknowledge the responsibility of being "citizens in uniform" and will continue to secure, assist and serve in right earnest in the service of nation and its citizens to realise motto of the Force "Yash Labhaswa" or "Attain Honour".
Share
Tweet
