7,253 theft, 549 drugging cases on trains till September 2012

Anti-sabotage checks have been carried out to strengthen surveillance mechanism of over 202 sensitive and vulnerable stations. File photo

As many as 7,253 theft and 549 drugging cases in trains were reported till September 2012, according to Railway Ministry data.

Maximum number of theft cases (1,406) were reported in Western Central Railway, followed by Central Railway (1,049) and Northern Railway (741) this year, the data said.

East Central Railway and Eastern Railway registered 102 and 76 drugging incidents respectively. In 2011, the number of theft and drugging cases stood at 9,230 and 1,109 respectively.

“The modus operandi is to give passengers fruits, tea, cold drink and sweets spiked with sedatives and then take away their entire belongings and deboard the trains,” a senior Railway Ministry official said.

A full-fledged awareness campaign has been launched to sensitise passengers against such gangs, the official said.

While 192 robbery cases took place in the same period, 72 molestation and 72 rape cases were reported. Central Railway tops in robbery cases with 116 incidents followed by Northern Railway with 30 cases.

In 2011, the number of robbery cases touched 258 while 76 molestation and three rape cases were registered.

Currently, Railway Protection Force is escorting 1,275 trains daily while another 2,200 trains are being escorted by Government Railway Police at different states.

In order to strengthen security, Railways have devised an integrated security system consisting electronic surveillance of about 202 vulnerable stations through CCTV network. Anti-sabotage checks have been carried out to strengthen surveillance mechanism of over 202 sensitive and vulnerable stations.

The official said regular coordination meetings are being held with state police at all levels to ensure proper registration and investigation of crime by GRP.