The Government Railway Police have deployed crime teams on a few night trains starting from here after a gang robbed a few passengers of gold chains on the Mayiladuthurai-Mysore Express, near Dharmapuri, a couple of days ago.
The audacious attack, in which criminals struck on different coaches of the train at odd hours, has turned the spotlight on traveller security and safety.
The armed guards and crime teams have been deployed on major trains such as the Rockfort, Guruvayur, Kanyakumari, Pandian, Pothigai, Nellai, Pearl City and Mayiladuthurai-Mysore Express.
The GRP personnel deployed for train escort duties have been provided with searchlights and weapons. Crime team members have been instructed to travel on select trains starting from Tiruchi and those passing through the station.
They will be in plainclothes, carrying the photographs of criminals, railway sources say.
Another set of field-level GRP personnel will be deployed on trains operating between shorter destinations to make the policing visible, the sources say.
The stringent security measures have been put in place on a directive from the GRP brass, says an officer. The GRP is tasked with preventing and detecting crimes on trains and at stations.
