Sunday’s incident wherein a 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted
on the moving Thrissur-Ernakulam MEMU is a grim reminder that safe train
travel in the state remains a distant dream. According to recent
reports filed with the Railway Police in the Thiruvananthapuram
division, it is the Express trains which are by far the most vulnerable
of all trains currently plying through the division.
The Bavunagar-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Bangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Gandhidham-Nagercoil Express, Okha-Ernakulam Express, Bikkanur-Thiruvananthapuram Express and Erode Express have been identified as the six trains in the division which are in ‘need of immediate protection and surveillance’.
This aside, passenger trains on the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam and the Ernakulam-Shoranur routes have also been labelled highly insecure. “We have alerted the officials concerned and steps are being taken at higher levels to post personnel on these trains,” said Railway police officials.
Currently, the Railway Police officials who have been appointed the task of keeping a vigil on the trains during the night hours admit that there is a severe shortage of staff to man the trains. “These Express trains ply through the Thrissur-Thiruvananthapuram stretch between 9.30 pm and 2 am. Due to lack of personnel, they go unmanned till their final destination at inappropriate times,” the officials said.
Also, since Express trains don’t have stops at all important stations, the police don;t have easy access to them.
Passengers associations cite that passenger trains remain under threat as they are easily accessible to miscreants. “There are many trains which are still unsafe. Drunkards and petty thieves move around freely on the trains, especially in the odd hours.
The Railways still have not taken stringent steps to address this urgent issue,” general secretary of the All Kerala Railway Passengers’ Association Mathew Paul said.
The Bavunagar-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Bangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express, Gandhidham-Nagercoil Express, Okha-Ernakulam Express, Bikkanur-Thiruvananthapuram Express and Erode Express have been identified as the six trains in the division which are in ‘need of immediate protection and surveillance’.
This aside, passenger trains on the Ernakulam-Kayamkulam and the Ernakulam-Shoranur routes have also been labelled highly insecure. “We have alerted the officials concerned and steps are being taken at higher levels to post personnel on these trains,” said Railway police officials.
Currently, the Railway Police officials who have been appointed the task of keeping a vigil on the trains during the night hours admit that there is a severe shortage of staff to man the trains. “These Express trains ply through the Thrissur-Thiruvananthapuram stretch between 9.30 pm and 2 am. Due to lack of personnel, they go unmanned till their final destination at inappropriate times,” the officials said.
Also, since Express trains don’t have stops at all important stations, the police don;t have easy access to them.
Passengers associations cite that passenger trains remain under threat as they are easily accessible to miscreants. “There are many trains which are still unsafe. Drunkards and petty thieves move around freely on the trains, especially in the odd hours.
The Railways still have not taken stringent steps to address this urgent issue,” general secretary of the All Kerala Railway Passengers’ Association Mathew Paul said.
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