March 21, 2002

    Maintenance of law and order and the security of passengers and their belongings in the running trains and railway premises is the constitutional responsibility of the State Government concerned. However, as per the information available with the Ministry of Railways, the number of train dacoities reported during the last three years that is 1999,2000 and 2001 is as under:

    Though maintenance of law and order and control of crime on Railway premises including running trains is the responsibility of the State Government concerned, the Railway administration has taken the following steps:

1. Anti-social elements are removed from Railway premises and trains.
2. Coach Attendants/TTEs keep proper watch on the passengers entering/detraining from the coaches.
3. FIR forms are made available with the Train Guards/Stations Masters/RPF to facilitate the travelling public to lodge their reports immediately.
4. Sharing of Special Intelligence and Crime Intelligence between RPF and GRP is done at all levels.
5. Announcement through Public Address system and CCTV at important Railway Stations to alert the travelling passengers against theft of their belongings etc.
6. RPF assistance booths are provided at important stations to assist passengers in lodging FIRs with Government Railway Police.
7. Periodic High Level co-ordination Meetings with Government Railway Police and Local Police are conducted to analyse the crime position with a view to taking suitable preventive measures.

    This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways , Shri O.Rajagopal in a written reply to a question by Shri E.M.Sudarsana Natchiappan in the Lok Sabha today.