Can’t board the train because of squatters blocking the entrance? The Government Railway Police (GRP) are now taking action against the offenders.

After receiving several complaints, the GRP on Friday arrested 34 people from the western line for sitting on the footboard and travelling in coaches reserved for disabled commuters.

A team of 20 policemen dressed in plainclothes boarded a Churchgate-bound train from Dahisar and caught the offenders. While four were caught for travelling in a reserved coach, 30 were penalised for obstructing entry.

The GRP officers used their mobile phones to film the commuters sitting near the footboard, before taking them into custody at Dadar station.

“We knew that the commuters would deny they were obstructing entry. Hence we decided to film them,” said A Dubey, sub-inspector at Dadar GRP, adding that many of the passengers were left embarrassed after watching the clips.

B Shirsat, deputy commissioner of police, GRP, Western Railway, said the idea was to let commuters know that they were being watched.

“We are going to continue the drive for a fortnight, covering as many trains as possible at different time slots,” said Shirsat.

The 34 offenders were fined Rs. 100 each by the Girgaum court and let off.

A Western Railway official said that according to the Indian Railway Act, the accused can be fined Rs. 500 for sitting on the footboard and obstructing entry, and Rs. 200 for travelling in a  reserved coach.