New Delhi, March 27: In the past five years (2021–2025), a total of 52,494 individuals have been arrested under the provisions of the Railway Property (Unlawful Occupation) Act, 1966, related to illegal occupation of Indian Railways property.
According to official information presented in Parliament, complaints have been filed against 50,432 of these offenders in the relevant courts.
The responsibility for safeguarding railway property lies with the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The RPF is authorized to file cases related to theft, embezzlement, collusion, and conspiracy against railway property under the Railway Property (Unlawful Occupation) Act, 1966.
After a case is registered against an offender, an investigation is conducted. Subsequently, a complaint is filed in the Special Railway Magistrate’s court. In states lacking special railway courts, complaints are filed in district courts.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw provided official statistics indicating that there were a total of 12,157 incidents of stone-pelting during the same five-year period, resulting in the arrest of 8,441 individuals by the RPF and Government Railway Police.
During this timeframe, only three incidents of derailment occurred due to the activities of miscreants on Indian Railways—one each in the Waltair division of East Coast Railway, the Jhansi division of North Central Railway, and the Chennai division of Southern Railway.
To prevent criminal interference with railway tracks, regular meetings of state-level security committees are being held. These committees are chaired by the Directors General of Police of the respective states and Jammu & Kashmir, including representatives from the RPF, Government Railway Police, and intelligence units.
The RPF maintains close coordination with state police officials at all levels to control crime, file cases, conduct investigations, and ensure the safe operation of trains. Special emphasis is placed on incidents of sabotage and sharing intelligence.
Additionally, continuous patrolling is conducted by the railway, RPF, Government Railway Police, and civil police in identified ‘black spots’ and risky sections. Regular campaigns are also held to remove loose and scattered items near railway tracks that could be used by miscreants to disrupt operations.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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