Perhaps the most emotional aspect of policing is dealing with runaway children. The little ones are often in alien territory, with no contact details to recall and unable to speak the local language to seek help.
Relocation of runaway children has been a challenge, mainly for the railway police, as children are mostly separated from their loved ones during train journeys. There are also those who hop on to trains after fleeing their homes for various reasons, including abuse. Sometimes, children also leave their homes in search of their matinee idols.
In 2013, around 530 cases of displaced children (90 per cent were boys) were reported in Chennai railway police limits that extend from Chennai Central to Elavur railway station, a few kilometres from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. This year, so far, the number stands at 113 children.
The trauma of being separated from their loved ones apart, displaced children also need to spend time at police stations so investigators can gather crucial information about them, in order to trace their guardians.
Thanks to the efforts of child welfare groups, the railway authorities and the police have decided to open a children’s assistance centre at Chennai Central, so it will serve as a temporary facility for runaway children before they are transferred to a children’s home.
The centre, which is still in the pipeline, should ideally have beds, good food and water, and minimal recreational facilities for children. However, constituting a runaway child relocation cell of the Railways could be the key, considering the glaring statistics.
Finders keepers, losers weepers — that is one saying that can be prominently displayed at railway stations and bus terminuses across the State. If you lose your luggage at these places, there is very little chance of getting it back.
Most passengers do not seem to pay much attention, says the police.
On an average, at least one passenger complains of missing bags at Egmore railway station, around five at Chennai Central and nearly 10 at CMBT, every day.
“If bags go missing from under the nose of the passenger, it is theft. But, if one loses luggage after leaving it lying about carelessly, then it is filed as a missing case. In both cases, however, it is very hard to trace the luggage,” says a senior police officer.
However, if the bags go missing on the railway station platform, the railway police can check CCTV footage and try to solve the puzzle.
“If luggage is left in the train and the railway police helpline is informed, then personnel on the train can secure it,” says the officer.
If luggage is left behind on buses, the conductor or driver can be alerted about it and they can keep it safe. “But the communication mechanism is outdated and bus stops do not have CCTV,” says the officer.
Abandoned bags become a headache for the police as they also trigger a bomb scare. “We advise passengers against keeping their hand bags or purses near the window or leaving their bags unattended, even while waiting for a train or bus,” says the officer.
