Porters know railway stations inside out, and this intimate knowledge of the location and their effortless interaction with passengers could be of immense help to law enforcement agencies to control crime.
The Government Railway Police (GRP), cashing in on this apparent advantage, has started an initiative involving porters to prevent crime and offences against women at railway stations. As part of the initiative, the GRP on Monday organised a meeting at the Secunderabad Railway Station. Close to 200 porters of the Secunderabad station attended the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, GRP Superintendent of Police M. Kantha Rao said porters should be cautious while at work. He asked them to alert police whenever they found abandoned objects and suspicious persons at railway stations. He also asked them to inform police if anyone misbehaved with women or tried to capture images of women using mobile camera on platforms or on trains.
“You can play a crucial role in helping the police to curb crime or other incidents,” he told porters at the meeting held on platform No. 1. He also sought their help in tracing missing children and curbing the habit of whitener-sniffing by street children at railway stations.
He also announced that porters and passengers could call up the 24-hour GRP Control Room on 040-27853755 or 94407-00040 / 94409-04873 to pass on information, complaints or suggestions.
DSP I. Jyothiprakash urged porters not to demand excess charges from passengers. He also asked them to avoid consumption of alcohol while at work. GRP Secunderabad Inspector J. Upendhar also spoke on the occasion.
Seminar on sexual violence
Judicial officers from various parts of the State will participate in a day-long seminar on ‘Sexual Violence Against Women – Issues and Challenges’ at the Dr. Marri Chenna Reddy HRD Institute here on Tuesday.
The seminar being organised by Andhra Pradesh Judicial Academy will be attended by judges, public prosecutors, advocates, police officers, senior IAS officers, women activists, human rights activists, media representatives and CII personnel. They will discuss all aspects of the issue and gender injustice faced by women and submit their views to Justice J.S. Verma Committee and the State government. This is the first time judicial officers will be giving their recommendations to the government to curb sexual violence against women.
Voicing concern
The teaching and non-teaching staff of Dr. B.R. ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) expressed solidarity and concern with the Delhi rape victim, who passed away recently. In-charge of Women’s Development and Extension Centre, BRAOU, Prof. G. Pushpa Chakrapani administered a pledge to create a better and safe environment for the entire humanity, a press release said. BRAOU Vice-Chancellor P. Prakash, Director (Academic) Prof. N. Venkata Narayana, Registrar A. Sudhakar, teaching and non-teaching staff members of the university were present.
