Question : THEFT OF PASSENGER LUGGAGE

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY )

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2437 BY SHRIMATI KAMLA DEVI PATLE TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 06.02.2014 REGARDING THEFT OF PASSENGER LUGGAGE.

(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. Details of cases of theft of luggage, robbery, pick-pocketing and other criminal activities reported in trains running between Katni- Bilaspur and Raipur- Raigarh sections during the last one year is as under:

Year	Theft	Robbery	Pick-Pocketing	Murder	Rape	Eve-Teasing	Drugging
2013	137	4	0	1	1	0	7

Policing on Railways is a State Subject and the prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as on running trains are, therefore, the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP) of the States concerned. As such, the cases of crime on Railways are reported to, registered and investigated by the Govt. Railway Police. Railway Protection Force (RPF) with available resources supplements the efforts of GRP by deploying their staff for escorting of important trains in affected areas and access control duties at important and sensitive stations.

The following measures are being taken by the Railways to ensure security of the passengers in the aforesaid sections:-

1. 25 trains are escorted by RPF daily on an average, in addition to 17 trains escorted by Government Railway Police.

2. Sensitization through awareness campaigns amongst the front line Railway Staff like ticket checking staff, RPF and on-board employees who have constant interface with the travelling public towards crime against passengers is being done.

3. Security Help-Line numbers have been set up in the concerned Zonal Control Rooms to facilitate the passengers to inform about any untoward incidents. The numbers of such security help-lines have been displayed at conspicuous places of important Railway stations and in the coaches of trains.

4. Regular coordination meetings are held with State Police at all level to ensure proper registration and investigation of crime by Government Railway Police.

(c) and (d): Yes, Madam. Two gangs were identified for their involvement in the cases of drugging of passengers and theft of passengers’ luggage in Katni- Bilaspur and Raipur- Raigarh sections of South Eastern Central Railway. Eight accused persons of these gangs have been arrested by the Government Railway Police.