The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Community policing to ensure safe travel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Community policing to ensure safe travel

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

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 and their service will be used for ensuring the safety and security of passengers.

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 on railway premises and thwart any sabotage attempt.

Mitra members

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 objective is to involve the passengers and the public to prevent crime on railway property, detect crime by eliciting information from the public; establish two-way communication with passengers and address security-related grievances; and timely assistance.

Another benefit is effective tackling of growing extremist and militant menace through improved information network and improvement in the functioning of the RPF. Suitable rewards are being provided by the RPF for valuable information.

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.

The RPF had also set up a 10-member Crime Prevention and Detection Squad. The Piravom Road-Aluva stretch had been identified vulnerable.

The RPF rescued 279 children in the last three years in the Thiruvananthapuram Division.

Helpline

Mr. Ashraf said the RPF had set up a helpline 9746769723 in addition to the Rail Alert 9846200100 for assisting commuters. A monthly bulletin was also being brought out as part of a social grouping initiative taken by the RPF.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala