The Palakkad Railway Division has witnessed a spurt in pelting of stones at moving trains in recent months.
As many as 30 stone-pelting incidents were reported in the first half of the current year whereas 35 such incidents had been reported in entire 2018.
Railway officials said that 17 passengers were injured in stone pelting at different sections between Mangaluru and Palakkad in the last 18 months. They said the number was high when compared to the incidence in the previous years.
The Railway have asked its staff on the field to maintain vigil against stone-pelting and to deal with any such incidence with utmost gravity.
The employees have been asked to find out those involved in stone-pelting and other subversive acts and to bring them to book under non-bailable sections of The Railways Act 1989 and the Railway Protection Force Act 1957.
Stone-pelting and other acts of sabotage can fetch imprisonment up to five years, said Railway officials here.
Most number of stone-pelting cases was reported in the current year in Tirur-Kozhikode section while it was in Kannur-Kasargod section last year.
When 11 cases were reported from Tirur-Kozhikode section in the last six months, five cases were reported from Vadakara-Kannur section, four from Kannur-Kasargod section, two each from Kozhikode-Vadakara, Palakkad-Pollachi and Shoranur-Tirur sections, and one each from Mangaluru-Kasargod, Shoranur-Nilambur, Podanur-Walayar, and Walayar-Palakkad sections.
RPF patrolling
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has intensified bike patrolling alongside the tracks as part of curbing the stone-pelting incidents.
Railway officials said that educating people, especially children, would be the best way to reduce stone-pelting at moving trains.
Railway have requested the people living near the tracks to watch out for people who engage in subversive activities, including stone-pelting.
People have been asked to report such cases to the police and help the Railway identify and nab the culprits.
