Deputy Inspector General (Railways) Bhavana Saxena has underlined the importance of installing Closed Circuit TV s (CCTV s) at Visakhapatnam Railway Station.
She is on her first visit to the city after taking over as DIG (Railways). She met Divisional Railway Manager D. Kamilla on Wednesday and spoke to him about the need strengthening security at the railway station and provision of barracks for men who escort VIP s.
Interacting with media persons who met her on Thursday, Ms. Bhavana said that the incidence of thefts and other crimes could be minimised with the installation of CCTV s. She said that the recent theft of Rs.21 lakhs from the ticket booking counter at the Kacheguda Railway Station was detected in a record time as the culprits were identified with the images captured by the remote cameras.
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She said that a majority of the crimes related to theft of suitcases from passengers and chain snatchings. Patrolling has been intensified on the trains and platforms. When her attention was drawn to the problem of hoax bomb alerts, she said that joint efforts were being made by Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) when such incidents occur. The bomb disposal squad of City Police was also cooperating in this regard, she said.
Serious concern
Ms. Bhavana expressed serious concern at the trafficking of women and children through trains. “AP is the major supply source of women for Mumbai and Delhi. When I was in the Women Protection Cell, I had initiated measures for their rescue. Now, we will train the GRP to rescue such women before they fall into the trap,” she said.
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The police personnel were being sensitised in the identification of such victims as also the culprits. They were also being trained in the identification of runaway kids. She said that recruitment of women constable for ‘Mahila Vahini' was going on at a different level. There were nine women constables at Visakhapatnam and a proposal has been sent for augmenting their strength.
Replying to queries, she said that the detection rate was 70 per cent and recovery rate was 65 per cent at Visakhpatnam GRP.
GRP DSP Y. Prem Babu and CI P. Srinivasa Rao were present.
Review
Earlier, Ms. Bhavana reviewed the functioning of the men from Rajahmundry, Visakhapatnam Line circle and Visakhapatnam. She held talks with Senior Divisional Security Commissioner G. Eswara Rao on Thursday.