Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Community policing for ensuring safety in railways

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Enthused by the response to RPF Mitra Yojna, a community policing initiative for ensuring the security of passengers, the Railway Protection Force has decided to seek more public participation to address the issues at railway stations in the Thiruvananthapuram Division and trains passing through the State.

As part of the endeavour, ‘RPF Mitra’ committees will be set up for stations and trains to address issues like misbehaviour towards women. Members will be provided identity cards.

Launched in the division in October last, the RPF had sought the cooperation of those who got timely assistance from the security personnel to get back their luggage, mobiles, gold ornaments or other valuables. They were enrolled as RPF Mitra.

The RPF established contacts with such ‘beneficiaries’ to get information that would enable the force to prevent crimes on board trains and thwart any sabotage attempt.

The security personnel keep in touch with the ‘mitras’ on a regular basis. Now, porters, select NGOs associated with the railways like Childline and persons rescued from mishaps and the public are enrolled as ‘RPF Mitra’.

Those who have the aptitude for public service and concern for the safety of the railways and passengers can become a ‘mitra’.

The initiative has helped in improving the functioning of the RPF as it helps in getting information, intelligence and providing assistance to the passengers, Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF, K.K. Ashraf told The Hindu.

Besides, it had helped to prevent child abuse, child labour and crime against women. The RPF had also set up a 10-member Crime Prevention and Detection Squad. The Piravom Road-Aluva stretch had been identified vulnerable.

Mr. Ashraf said the RPF had set up a helpline 9746769723 in addition to the Rail Alert 9846200100 for assisting commuters.

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