Taking selfies in close proximity to a running train can get you up to 5 years of jail
The Railway Protection Force has ferreted out three sections from the Railway Act, 1989 to put a lid on the ever-increasing tendency of youngsters to click selfies in front of trains, on the edge of platforms and just about any place where the Railways provides a picturesque backdrop for the selfie.
The laws the RPF have taken up are section 145, pertaining to nuisance, section 147 concerning trespass into railway territory and section 153 – the toughest of the three – dealing with endangering the safety of rail commuters by willful act of omission. The last section can see a person being jailed for up to five years.
In response to a query from dna, RPF director-general SK Bhagat confirmed the move. According to RPF officials, the force is dividing its actions against the selfie-seekers into three distinct categories.
The first, when selfies are taken on empty tracks, will see the RPF invoke section 147 of the Railway Act. The second, when selfies are taken in front of goods trains, then section 145 and 147 would be invoked.
The third and the most dangerous, said officials, is the fad of clicking selfies in close proximity to a running train, either on the tracks or on the edge of platforms like it has been observed in a few cases on the Mumbai suburban network.
"This is dangerous as it creates trouble for the driver who might apply emergency brakes and in the process end up derailing a train and hurting passengers inside. In such cases we will invoke Section 153, which talks of a five-year jail term," explained an RPF officer.
"It is a wonderful decision by the RPF. The thrill of clicking extreme selfies is getting youngsters to try all sorts of stunts in order to get that perfect shot when an approaching train seems to photo-bomb the selfie. It is time collegians are counselled against this," said a senior railway official.
How RPF plans to act:
1. When selfies are taken on empty tracks u/s 147 Railway Act.
2. When selfies are taken in front of goods train u/s145 and 147 Railway Act.
3. When selfies are taken in front of passenger train and driver applies or thinks of applying emergency brakes u/s 145, 147 and 153 Railway Act.
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