Rogues rule the roost in ladies' compartments

Statistics provided to the Bombay high court on Thursday revealed that anti-social elements entering the ladies compartment of trains on the Western Railway (WR) has doubled in the last three years.

A total of 5,984 persons were arrested in 2012 under Section 162 (entering a carriage or other place reserved for females) of the Railways Act as compared to 2,438 in 2010.
The figures were shared in an affidavit filed by Atul Pathak, additional chief security commissioner, Railway Protection Force (RPF). It stated that special attention is paid to ensure the safety and security of women passengers in ladies compartments.

The RPF has deployed women constables in plain clothes at important suburban stations  and installed closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at vital locations.

The affidavit stated that the WR has taken all possible steps to ensure that women passengers travel safely and prompt action is taken against offenders in case of any untoward incident.  The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest litigation filed by Help Mumbai Foundation, an NGO, which sought amendments in the Indian Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code for better law enforcement in the city which will give a sense of security to women.