Lok Sabha Question No. 581 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Crime/Robbery in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI), HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 581 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019

## CRIME/ROBBERY IN TRAINS

581. SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI): DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether  the  Government  has  taken  serious  note  of  the  recent robbery in Duranto Express by armed robbers near Delhi and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)   the manner in which the signaling system has been tampered with and the reasons for RPF personnel not deployed/ present in the train at the time of the incident; and
- (c) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  for  the train passengers' safety and security along with the compensation, if any, to the victims?

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

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (c) OF UNSTARRED  QUESTION  NO.  581  BY  SHRI  MUTHAMSETTI  SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI) AND DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.02.2019 REGARDING CRIME/ROBBERY IN TRAINS

- (a):    Yes,  Madam.  On  17.01.2019  at  about  03.25  hrs,  an  incident  of robbery by 3-4 miscreants was reported in B-3 coach of train No. 12266 Jammu  Tawi  -  Delhi  Sarai  Rohilla  Duronto  Express  between  Holambi Kalan and Badli Railway stations over Delhi Division of Northern Railway. Government Railway Police/Sabzi Mandi/Delhi has registered a case vide Crime  No.  01/2019  u/s  392  &  34  Indian  Penal  Code  against  unknown persons. Special teams of Police have been formed to detect the case.

(b):  The  Signal  System  was  thoroughly  checked  and  it  was  found functioning  properly.  Data  logger  report  showed  that  one  track  circuit bobbed from 3:23:59 to 3:24:01 and again from 3:24:25 to 3:34:06. It is suspected that it is a case of outside interference with Track Circuit. The train No. 12266 Duronto Express was not escorted by Railway Protection Force as it has only one stoppage en-route and no such incident has been reported  in  this  train  during  the  last  four  years.  However,  after  the incident, RPF personnel have been deployed in the train for escorting to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

- (c):  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.  However,  Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of GRP to provide better protection and security of passenger area & passengers and for matters connected therewith.

Besides, the following steps are also being taken by the Government for train passengers' safety and security:-

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 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 and WiFi facility.
7. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to educate passengers to take precautions against theft, snatching, drugging etc.
8. Surprise  checks  are  conducted  in  trains  to  ensure  security  of passengers and alertness of trains escorting staff .
9. Drives are conducted  from  time  to  time  against  the  entry  of unauthorized persons in trains and railway premises.

10. Regular coordination is made 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.

Railways' liability for compensation  for  death  or  injury of railway passengers in untoward incidents (robbery) is laid down in Section 124A read with section 123 of Railways Act, 1989. Admissibility of compensation is decided by Railway Claims Tribunal (RCT) on the basis of a claim application filed by claimants before them. Railway Administration  is  liable  to  pay  compensation  to  rail  passengers  only when a decree is awarded by Hon'ble RCT in favour of the claimant.

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