Crime on Mumbai trains up by 15% in 5 years

The CAG report states that crimes in trains have increased by 15% in the last five years.

This shows that passengers continue to be easy targets and that it was high time that rail security teams got their act together.

The terror attack at CST, the derailment of Jnaneshwari Express that killed 150 passengers and rise in sabotage incidents have highlighted the problems of railway security. In view of the increased security threat, the audit felt it necessary to assess the security concerns of the Indian Railways.

Slamming the railways, the latest 2011 report states that there is a lack of security consciousness on part of the railway administration, despite recommendations by the high-level committee on Composite Security Plan.

No guidelines have been framed on the number of security personnel escorting trains — whether they should be armed and which trains are to be escorted. The local railways decide which trains need escort based on availability of manpower, threat perception and importance of the train, adds the report. “Everyone knows that the RPF and GRP are busy collecting money from passengers by renting out seats and bullying poor commuters,” said a commuter body member.

The registration of crimes committed on moving trains is plagued by a number of problems. The FIR forms are still not available with coach attendants, conductors and guards of several trains.

The Central Railway (CR) had drawn up a Rs27.49 crore shopping list to buy hi-tech security equipment, including night-vision cameras and internet-based security surveillance,  for the suburban railway network. But the CR is yet to get the system.