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Mumbai: Suburban trains still unsafe for women, show GRP stats
Railway police officials said aware commuters and amendment of Indian Penal Code sections to include several forms of indecency could be why more such cases were being registered.
Crimes against women continued to rise on suburban trains in 2014.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) registered 55 cases of molestation in the past year, compared to 41 cases in 2013.
Railway police officials said aware commuters and amendment of Indian Penal Code sections to include several forms of indecency could be why more such cases were being registered.
Most crimes are recorded on the central and harbour lines, the officials said.
To curb crime, the GRP said it will appoint a police inspector or sub inspector at all suburban railway stations. At present, only constables stand guard at these stations.
“We have started deploying a police officer at railway stations. An inspector will stand guard at stations and if the jurisdiction is larger, a sub inspector will be deployed,” said Dr Ravinder Singal, GRP commissioner, adding, “The intention is to have better accountability and supervision of the constables who currently appointed at the railway stations.”
The officers will be pulled up if crimes increase at their stations.
“We take all complaints seriously. We have also warned the personnel of disciplinary action if they are found slacking,” he added.
Last year, all-women squads were deployed on the central and western lines to tackle harassment of women and other crimes targeting women.
The squads, dressed in plain clothes, patrol the suburban stations to keep a watch on gangs that are known to target the women’s compartments.
Other crimes in the GRP’s jurisdiction also saw a rise in the past year. In 2014, 3,118 cases were registered, compared to 2,676 cases in 2013 — a rise of 442 cases. Of these, 2,247 cases were of pickpocketing, bag-dropping, bag-lifting and chain snatching.
Other crimes
If you need help:
* GRP helpline number: 9833331111
* Railway Protection Force: 1275/1311
* GRP commissioner: 022 23759251
* Upload complaints on www.facebook.com/mumbairailwaypolice
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