Tamil Nadu

Increase in drugging cases prompts RPF to set up squads

TIRUCHI: The increase in the number of drugging offences reported on long-distance trains has prompted the Railway Protection Force to form special squads and step up awareness campaigns in all divisions of Southern Railway.

Twenty-eight cases have so far been booked this year, as against 20 booked during 2006. Barring five-six cases reported in Southern Railway jurisdiction, the rest have taken place in the neighbouring zones.

G.M.P. Reddy, Chief Security Commissioner, RPF, Southern Railway, told The Hindu here that special squads, each comprising six RPF personnel, had been formed to check such crimes. Carrying an album of criminals, the squads would travel in select trains, keeping an eye on suspicious elements.

Though a majority of the offences took place in the neighbouring zones, the crime came to light after the trains reached the Southern Railway limits, Mr. Reddy said. The cases have been reported in the Arakkonam–Katpadi and Ernakulam sections. Breakthroughs had been achieved in a couple of cases, while definite clues had been obtained in the others.

RPF officials say the culprits travel as passengers even in reserved compartments and strike gullible passengers, offering them eatables laced with chemical substances that could make them unconscious for hours. As the crime has inter-State ramifications, the RPF has launched a massive awareness campaign.

Besides the awareness messages being delivered through the public address system in major stations, pamphlets in regional languages are being distributed to travellers.

This apart, skits are being staged at divisional headquarters and important stations.

Besides coordinating with the Government Railway Police, the RPF was exchanging information with its units in other zones, Mr. Reddy said. Decoy checks were being conducted in all divisions.

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