E-Paper
Pelting stones at moving trains: Railways mulls strict action, launches awareness drive
In a recent case, four men, all aged between 18 and 20 years, from Dehat Kotwali in Mirzapur district, were arrested for pelting stones at two Rajdhani trains on Monday.
Thrill-seeking mischievous youngsters endangering passengers’ safety by pelting stones at speeding trains have the railways worried. Some young men and teenagers were found to be throwing stones at trains, especially the premium superfast ones such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat that pass through populated areas, for fun as a way to compete among themselves or for social media reels.
In a recent case, four men, all aged between 18 and 20 years, from Dehat Kotwali in Mirzapur district, were arrested for pelting stones at two Rajdhani trains on Monday.
They were identified with the help of CCTV footage. One of the accused was still absconding. “The youngsters were captured in CCTV taking selfies in front of a goods train on Sunday. Later they pelted stones at 12302 Howrah Rajdhani Express and 12314 New Delhi-Sealdah Express. Dozen window panes of nine coaches of Howrah Rajdhani Express and two of Sealdah Rajdhani Express were damaged in the incidents. We have arrested four of them while the fifth one is absconding”, said the assistant security commissioner of North Central Railway (NCR), Prayagraj, TK Agnihotri.
This is perhaps the first case in which adults were found to be involved in such a crime, and jailed, added the official. Following Sunday’s incident, railways have once again intensified their action against stone pelters.
In addition, an awareness campaign was launched in the troubled areas of the NCR zone with joint teams of railway officials and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel.
“We have been getting instructions from the railway board concerning the incidents of throwing stones on moving trains. Our teams have been undertaking awareness drives in villages and urban localities situated near the railway tracks,” said Agnihotri.
