Railway protection force of Western Railway excelled in various fields of passengers security and service

In the journey towards excellence, Western Railway has outdone itself year after year. Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Western Railway plays a vital role to facilitate and enhance the security of its passengers. In the year 2021 Western Railway's RPF has accomplished several achievements.

Anil Kumar Lahoti General Manager of Western & Central Railway has appreciated the efforts made by RPFAnil Kumar Lahoti General Manager of Western & Central Railway has appreciated the efforts made by RPFv for their marvelous achievements despite the challenging situations.

According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the fine recovered from cases under the Railways Act has substantially increased by 90%. The percentage of detection of belongings & handing over by WR RPF has increased by 97.5%. Detection of NDPS cases and handing over for further investigation rose by 180%. In 2021, the number of cases detected with the help of CCTV cameras increased by 487.5%, in comparison to 2020.

Round the year, WR RPF conducted several drives for the protection of passengers and railway property. In 2021, under Operation Nanhe Farishtey WR RPF rescued 385 boys and 212 girls with the follow up action in coordination with CWCs and NGOs. During the year, the RPF returned valuables worth approx.. Rs. 2.58 Crs to their rightful owners.

Going beyond the call of their duty, WR RPF has saved the lives of 34 persons in danger of coming under running trains at various railway stations and premises, risking their own lives. WR RPF is making special efforts for the safeguarding of railway assets in railway premises. In this regard railway property of value approx. Rs. 62 lakh were seized and 847 persons arrested in prevention/detection of crime against Railway property.

Shri Thakur added that RPF supplements the efforts of the state police in the field of combating crime against passengers under Mission Yatri Suraksha. WR RPF attends to complaints received through Rail Madad, Twitter and Helpline No. 139 to redress passenger grievances. In the year 2021, RPF apprehended 291 offenders and handed over to state police for legal action.

Under Operation Satark, WR RPF took action against the transportation of illicit liquor, Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), Tobacco & its products, unaccounted cash, precious items, smuggled, contraband goods, etc. Items valued more than Rs. 26 lakhs were recovered and total 359 persons were apprehended by RPF and handed over to concerned law enforcement agencies for legal action.

In order to give focused attention to the menace of smuggling of narcotics through railway system, WR RPF conducted drives under Operation Narcos and recovered contraband items worth more than Rs. 27 lakhs.

WR RPF has played an important role to ensure the availability of reserved tickets to passengers. In this connection, journey tickets of about Rs. 2.15 Cr. illegally booked by touts were seized by RPF, with the arrest of 833 touts. Besides this, fine amounting to Rs. 34,72,630/- was realized from 13,846 passengers who occupied travel space in an unauthorized manner.

Under Operation Samay Palan, WR RPF has played a vital role in maintaining the punctuality of trains under which 2863 persons were arrested for the offence of unauthorized Alarm Chain Pulling.

Shri Thakur further added WR RPF that has played important role in creating awareness programs among the local public regarding stone-pelting on trains, trespassing, etc. and in this connection more than 27,000 awareness programs were conducted by RPF to educate the public and rail users.

WR RPF also conducted drives against unauthorized vendors/hawkers under which RPF apprehended & prosecuted 8,410 offenders and realized fines. Under Operation Dignity, WR RPF rescued 195 adult passengers in need of care and protection.