Lok Sabha Question No. 1783 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-13
Subject: Incidents of Looting
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SUSHMITA DEV, JYOTIRADITYA MADHAVRAO SCINDIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1783 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.02.2019

## INCIDENTS OF LOOTING

1783. KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV: SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether in view  of  increase  in  the  incidents  of  looting  to  railway commuters  in  the  running trains, the passengers  are  feeling insecure of their lives and belongings etc.;
- (b) if  so,  the  number of incidents of looting reported in the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Railway  Protection  Force  has  become  ineffective  to control/  check  such  incidents  and  it  appears  that  there  is  nexus between police force and other railway staff; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures the Government proposes to take in this regard?

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

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1783 BY KUMARI SUSHMITA DEV AND SHRI JYOTIRADITYA  M.  SCINDIA  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON 13.02.2019 REGARDING INCIDENTS OF LOOTING

(a) to (d): Policing on Railways being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law & order in  Railway  premises  as  well  as  on  running  trains  are  the  statutory responsibility  of  the  State  Governments,  which  they  discharge  through Government  Railway  Police  (GRP)/District  Police.  Railway  Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP to provide better protection and security to passenger area & passengers and for matters connected therewith.    Cases  of  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC)  crimes  are  registered  and investigated by the concerned Government Railway Police. Whenever any information  about  status  of  crime  on  Railways  is  sought,  State  GRP  is requested to provide information. As per data received from Government Railway Police Station, the cases of robbery in trains have increased to 711 cases in the year, 2017 as compared to 598 cases in the year, 2016. Such cases have decreased to 651 in the year, 2018. Further, no case of nexus between Police Force and other Railway Staff found in such cases during the last 03 years over Indian Railways.

However,  the  following  steps  are  also  being  taken  by  the  Railways  in coordination with GRP for safety and security of passengers in trains and at stations:-

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/sections,  2500  trains  (on  an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily in addition to 2200  trains  escorted  by  Government  Railway  Police  of  different States daily.
2. Surveillance  is  kept  through  CCTV  cameras,  provided  at  about  453 stations  over  Indian  Railways,  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of passengers.

3. Security Help Line number 182 is operational over Indian Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
4. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways  are  in  regular  touch  with  passengers  to  enhance  security and address their security concerns.
5. An  Integrated  Security  System  (ISS)  consisting  of  surveillance  of vulnerable  stations  through  Close  Circuit  Television  (CCTV)  Camera Network,  Access  Control  etc.  has  been  sanctioned  to  improve surveillance mechanism over 202 railway stations.
6. All Railway Stations and passenger carrying trains are planned to be progressively provided with CCTV based surveillance system.
7. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate  passengers  to  take  precautions  against  theft,  snatching, drugging etc.
8. Drives are conducted  from  time to time against the entry of unauthorized persons in trains and railway premises.
9. Further, close liaison is made by Railways with the State Police/GRP authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their  investigation  and  maintenance  of  law  &  order  in  Railway premises as well as on running trains.

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