Doubts over safety at railway stations

Are our railway stations safe places for passengers? The murder of a 6-year-old girl by an insane man at the Secunderabad railway station on Tuesday makes one wonder whether railway stations are death-traps for passengers. If one enters the Secunderabad railway station through the main gate, one can notice many strangers and anti-socials misbehaving with passengers. Apart from some embarrassing incidents of street kids, clad in murky attire, begging, one can even see drug consumption in nooks and corners. Railway police superintendent Sarvasreshth Tripathi told Express that the railway police would take stern action against those involved in anti-social activities and said the murder of the girl, who went to the station with her father and grandmother, was the first of such crime at the station. “We will take the issue seriously and also have directed the railway police to be vigilant in all railway stations in keep tracking the movements of persons to ascertain as to whether they are genuine passengers or not. If railway police notice any drug addict inhaling ganja and other narcotic substances, we will bring them to police station and will provide proper counselling with the assistance of various NGOs,” said Tripathi.  Explaining the security measures that were taken by the railway police, Tripathi sought advice from the public for better policing at railway stations. “We strive to provide the best security to passengers and more CCTV cameras will be installed to track the movements of suspects,” the SP added. With a number of NGOs working with the railway police, the number of cases of drug abuse, theft and drinking at railway stations has come down in the past two years. The railway police are keen to work with other NGOs who strive to rescue runaway kids and street children. “We conduct frisking and do thorough checking at all entrances of the Secunderabad railway station regularly. We also seek public help to protect passengers and ensure their safe journey,” Tripathi said.

By Moule Mareedu
moulimareedu@gmail.com