Lok Sabha Question No. 1158 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-25
Subject: Crimes in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: ANOOP MISHRA

1158.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1158 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25.07.2018

## CRIMES IN TRAINS

SHRI ANOOP MISHRA:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  emergency  complaints  mechanism  established  for  reporting crimes inside railway compartments especially when the train is passing through regions with no network connectivity;
- (b) the mandate for railway police personnels on every train and whether it has been revised in the past few years and if so, details thereof; and
- (c)  the  measures  the  Government  is  taking  to  strengthen  security  of passenger trains?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

(a): To provide round the clock security related assistance to passengers, including reporting of any crime in trains, All India Security Helpline 182 has  been  operationalised  through  Divisional  Security  Control  Rooms  of Railway Protection Force (RPF) across Indian Railways. Security Helpline is presently functioning on manual mode. Upgradation of Security Helpline 5.59 crore.  Integration of Security Helpline 182 with an APP has been further envisaged to make it more passenger friendly and effective. Functioning of Security Helpline 182  is  being  reviewed  at  regular  interval  of  time  to  ensure  smooth

182 has been undertaken at an approved cost of ` functioning of the Helpline System.

In case of problems in network connectivity, on duty staff of RPF/Government Railway Police (GRP), Commercial Department of Railways and Guards can also be approached by passengers for seeking assistance or getting their First Information Report (FIR) registered at the next GRP police station.

(b): Prevention and detection of crime, registration of FIRs, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in railway station premises as  well  as  in  running  trains  are  the  statutory  responsibility  of  State Governments,  which  they  discharge  through  the  GRP.  RPF  supplements the  efforts  of  the  GRPs  of  respective  States  by  deploying  its  staff  for strengthening of security over railways.

Prior  to  the  year  2003,  role  and  responsibility  of  RPF  was  restricted  to protection  and  security  of  railway  property  only.  In  the  year  2003,  the Railways Act, 1989 and the RPF Act, 1957 were amended and charter of duties and responsibilities of RPF was extended to cover protection and security of passenger area, passengers and matters connected therewith, in addition to railway property. However, commensurate legal powers to deal with passenger related offences under the IPC are not available with RPF and powers of registration of cases and their investigation still rests exclusively with GRPs of respective States.

(c): Railways, through the Railway Protection Force (RPF), are supplementing efforts of GRPs of respective States to strengthen security across  Indian  Railways.  Measures  initiated  by  Railways  to  strengthen security include escorting of 2500 trains by RPF (on an average daily), in addition to escorting of 2200 trains by GRP, access control at important stations, operationalisation and upgradation of Security Help Line number

182, surveillance through CCTV cameras, prosecution of offenders under relevant provisions of the Railways  Act, 1989, security  of  women passengers, rescue of children, etc. Regular coordination is being maintained with the State Police/GRP authorities at all levels. In addition, State Level Security Committee for Railways (SLSCR) have been constituted for all State/Union Territories (UTs) under the Chairmanship of respective  Director  General  of  Police/  Commissioner  of  States/  Union Territories for regular monitoring and review of security arrangements for the Railways.

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