Superintendent of Railway Police of Vijayawada Division Shemushi Bajpai issued shoot-at-sight orders against gangs robbing passengers in moving trains and on platforms.
She appealed to the police to be alert during summer to save the lives of passengers and their properties. In the process, police need not wait for any orders and can open fire on thieves to foil their attempts to rob passengers, she said.
“Most of the inter-state gangs strike on moving trains during the summer. Thieves carry country-made pistols and other lethal weapons and they do not hesitate to open fire on passengers and police. To protect themselves as well as the public, police can resort to firing,” the SP clarified.
Ms. Bajpai said that an action plan has been prepared to prevent thefts in moving trains during April, May and June. As a part of it, additional forces would be requisitioned and patrolling intensified in trains along with Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
“Government Railway Police (GRP) has about 550 strength, including Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), Circle Inspectors (CIs), Sub-Inspectors and constables. We will get additional staff from the districts. We identified the trains, places and timings where thefts are occurring during summer season,” the SRP said. Instructions have been given to the police to coordinate with Guntakal and Hyderabad Division railway police and arrange security to the passengers in identified trains. Armed security personnel would be deployed in trains, Ms. Bajpai told The Hindu .
Different MOs
About 20 robber gangs are moving in Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam, Ongole, Nellore and Vijayawada routes. Gangs from Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are active in A.P. and gangs from few other states are striking occasionally.
“The Modus Operandi (MO) of the gangs is different. Thieves loot passengers by sedating and cutting their bags when they are asleep and some gangs create panic by causing injuries with knives and fire arms to carry out their operations. We request the passengers to be alert, particularly in reserved and air-conditioned bogies from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., and help the police in preventing crimes,” the Railway SP said.
Vijayawada Railway DSP P. Ramakrishna said that the police arrested a few members of different robber gangs in the last few days.
Coordination meets
Coordination meetings were held with the RPF and the South Central Railway authorities to curb the menace.
“We will take the cooperation of civil police as robbers escape into the villages and towns after committing thefts in trains. Patrolling should be arranged along the tracks at vulnerable places,” Mr. Ramakrishna said.
Robbers carry country-made pistols and other lethal weapons. Police can resort to firing to protect themselves as well as the public
Shemushi Bajpai
Superintendent of Railway Police, Vijayawada Division
