Safety of local train commuters, especially women, has always been a topic of debate, continuously brought into focus by frequent incidents of crime. The latest is the murder of a 55-year-old woman, Panga Andher, who sold vegetables for a living, in a local between Nalasopara and Vasai early on Saturday.
This isn't an isolated incident that highlights the vulnerability of train commuters, especially women.
On January 5, 23-year-old Esther Anuhya went missing from outside Kurla terminus and was later found dead in a secluded area near the highway in Kanjurmarg. In May 2013, a man had thrown acid on Preeti Rathi, a Delhi girl, at Bandra Terminus soon after she alighted from the train. Rathi, who had sustained grievous burn injuries, succumbed after a few days.
The government railway police, however, claim to have their own problems while also stating in the same breath that they are doing everything in their power to ensure passengers' safety.
Deputy commissioner of police (railway) Rupali Ambure said, "We have started several drives against those who target the commuters. A close watch is kept on regular criminals, including pickpockets and mobile phone thieves. But such stray incidents of serious offences are worrisome for us as well."
Ambure added that the railway police have started an all women's squad, Nirbhaya, which is active all through the commissionerate. These women travel in the ladies compartments and keep a close watch on anti-social elements during morning and evening peak hours.
"We have also started a compulsory 'out operation' in which all railway police officers, including seniors, barring the on-duty police officer and a few constables, have been ordered to come on the field between 9am and 11am and from 6pm to 9pm."
According to Ambure, the biggest problem for railway patrolling teams is illegal access points for criminals. "Apart from the authorised entry and exit points at railway stations, there are a lot of illegal entry points, which are hard to cover during patrolling. We are in talks with the railway authorities and the Railway Protection Force to seal these points so that passengers' safety is ensured," she added.
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