Stone-pelting at trains: Children, vagrants are usual suspects; jail term up to 5 years under Railways Act
HYDERABAD: Pelting stones at trains is a disturbing trend that not just puts passengers at risk and delays trains but also an anti-social action that will invite legal consequences, say officials.'
“A general disregard for public safety, coupled with ignorance about legal implications of such actions, contributes to the frequency of these disturbances. Some locals even indulge in damaging passing trains or railway infrastructure with stones just for amusement,” an SCR official said.
Some of the most vulnerable points/sections are Falaknuma to Budvel, Sitaphalmandi to Lallaguda, Hafeezpet to Lingampally, and near Mahabubnagar and Malkajgiri stations.
Given the sharp rise in cases, the RPF has appealed to the public not to indulge in anti-social activities like stone-pelting and dumping material on tracks that can endanger the safety of passengers and damage railway property. They urged people to call 139 in case they find anybody indulging in such acts so swift action can be taken.
Measures by railways
Railway security staff are conducting campaigns in nearby schools and villages to create awareness among children and villagers about the seriousness of stone-pelting and the gravity of punishment. Regular drives under the Railway Act are being conducted against anti-social elements and drunkards in the affected sections and black spots.
Security staff were directed to serve notices on the village sarpanch, principals of nearby hostels, and landlords where children are playing in adjacent grounds close to the tracks. Identification of black spots and timings where frequent incidents were reported has been done. Dedicated staff are deployed to keep watch at black spots. Besides, the team is conducting awareness drives in trackside residential areas, amongst parents, about repercussions of stone-pelting, officials added.
Offenders are arrested and prosecuted under relevant sections of the Railways Act (Sec 153 & 154) and also relevant sections of IPC and BNS. The person is liable for punishment up to 5 years as per section 153 and punishment up to 1 year or fine or both as per section 154..
“A general disregard for public safety, coupled with ignorance about legal implications of such actions, contributes to the frequency of these disturbances. Some locals even indulge in damaging passing trains or railway infrastructure with stones just for amusement,” an SCR official said.
Some of the most vulnerable points/sections are Falaknuma to Budvel, Sitaphalmandi to Lallaguda, Hafeezpet to Lingampally, and near Mahabubnagar and Malkajgiri stations.
Given the sharp rise in cases, the RPF has appealed to the public not to indulge in anti-social activities like stone-pelting and dumping material on tracks that can endanger the safety of passengers and damage railway property. They urged people to call 139 in case they find anybody indulging in such acts so swift action can be taken.
Measures by railways
Railway security staff are conducting campaigns in nearby schools and villages to create awareness among children and villagers about the seriousness of stone-pelting and the gravity of punishment. Regular drives under the Railway Act are being conducted against anti-social elements and drunkards in the affected sections and black spots.
Security staff were directed to serve notices on the village sarpanch, principals of nearby hostels, and landlords where children are playing in adjacent grounds close to the tracks. Identification of black spots and timings where frequent incidents were reported has been done. Dedicated staff are deployed to keep watch at black spots. Besides, the team is conducting awareness drives in trackside residential areas, amongst parents, about repercussions of stone-pelting, officials added.
Offenders are arrested and prosecuted under relevant sections of the Railways Act (Sec 153 & 154) and also relevant sections of IPC and BNS. The person is liable for punishment up to 5 years as per section 153 and punishment up to 1 year or fine or both as per section 154..
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