The Hindu : Front Page : RPF focussing on naxal-infected areas

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Wednesday, Sep 07, 2005

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RPF focussing on naxal-infected areas

Staff Reporter

More personnel to be deployed for escorting trains

A.K. Suri. — PHOTO: S. JAMES

MADURAI: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is strengthening its infrastructure along naxal-infected areas with modern weaponry and equipment. Around 9,000 personnel recruited recently would be deployed in Indian Railways for escorting more number of trains.

According to the RPF Director-General, A.K. Suri, two battalions of Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) were posted in Jammu and Kashmir for operations.

"The naxalites do not harm the public. Even when explosives are placed on tracks or other establishments, they alert the railway staff to prevent loss of life. They target railway stations only superficially," he said.

While Uttar Pradesh topped the list of property offences in the country, Bihar registered the maximum number of offences against passengers, such as dacoity and robbery. "However, the crime rate has come down in the recent months. After the amendment giving extra powers to the RPF, we apprehended 8.5 lakh persons involved in minor offences and levied a penalty of Rs.16 crores. The RPF also seized a large quantity of narcotic substances on railway premises," he told newsmen here on Tuesday.

Mr. Suri said awareness was being created among passengers to refuse eatables offered by strangers on trains. Decoys were deployed to corner `biscuit-bandits.' The RPF was assisting the local police in arresting persons involved in child trafficking and arms smuggling.

Earlier, he presided over a grievance day meeting and received petitions from RPF personnel. The Chief Security Commissioners, G.M.P. Reddy (Southern Railway), and P. Mohan (Integral coach Factory), the Divisional Security Commissioner, A.P. Babu Rao, were present.

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