Criminals adopt signal tampering to rob train passengers

• Signals can be tampered with by disconnecting wires
• It is an easy process and takes five minutes
• Once the train is halted, the criminals attack passengers and rob valuables
• Four cases are reported in the state

Vijayawada: The Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) will step up vigil in Vijayawada division railway limits to check train robberies as the criminals have chosen new method of tampering with railway signals which are located near the railway tracks and looting the train passengers when train stops.

Movement of trains depend on the signals. When a driver sees, a red signal, he immediately stops the train.

Now, the criminal gangs are tampering with the railway signals by disconnecting the wires of the signals. Signals lights can be damaged at two places on the poles and railway boxes, which are located near the tracks.

The criminals adopted the new system of tampering signals. They tampered signals at three places in Rayalaseema districts and robbed the train passengers during the last few days. Similarly, one such a case has been reported in Guntur district.

Keeping in view of the four signal tampering cases recorded in the last few days, The Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Police (RPF) in Vijayawada division stepped up the security in the railway stations and the railway tracks. The criminals in Rayalaseema districts robbed gold ornaments and cash from the passengers in three trains.

KV Mohana Rao, Superintendent of Police, Government Railway Police (GRP) said instructions were issued to the GRP staff working in seven districts from Krishna to Srikakulam to be on high alert in view of the recent cases of signal tampering.

Shortage of staff also affecting the GRP services in Vijayawada division limits. As per the norms, about 1300 staff is required for seven districts, but about 650 staff are working. It is difficult to beef up security without adequate staff, said the SP.

Hardcore criminals stop the train by tampering with the signal. In the meantime, some gang members sit inside the trains as normal passengers and suddenly start the attack and rob the valuables.

In some other cases, they hid near the railway stations and suddenly attack once the train was halted. A 15-member gang robbed the passengers of Venkatadri Express, which was stopped near Juturu Railway Station between Gooty and Tadipatri in Anantapur district.

The criminals robbed gold jewellery mainly chains from women passengers and decamped with the booty. The shocked passengers lodged a complaint in Hyderabad on Friday.

Predicting such dangerous robberies and attacks, the GRP and RPF staff decided to be on high alert. Superintendent of Police Mohana Rao said if necessary the security staff can open fire on the criminals to prevent the offence, he added.

Meanwhile, the railway staff is alleging that privatisation of catering, cleanliness and other works in the trains spoiled the safety system in the trains. Many outsourcing workers are joining the services.

There is no proper mechanism for the verification of these candidates, who work on a contract basis. If they rob some valuables from passengers and escape, their address will not be available, said P Ramgopal, president of the South Central Railway Mazdoor Union, Vijayawada Division.

He said these temporary workers have no responsibility. He felt only railway employees can give protection to the passengers and pointed out outsourcing staff don’t take responsibility.

Moreover, train tickets inspectors and train ticket examiners’ employees are very less in the division. As per the norms, at least 900 train ticket checking staff should be allocated to Vijayawada division basing on train traffic.

Nearly, 270 posts are lying vacant. If adequate ticket checking staff posted in trains, they also can keep a vigil on the passengers. Due to heavy load of work, the staff is not able to keep a vigil on passengers, said Ramgopal.

He said the Railway Board has to take a decision on the recruitment and is very lengthy process. Shortage of staff and involvement of private workers in maintenance of train are two major hurdles in prevention of thefts and crimes in the trains and railway stations.

The GRP police and Railway police arrested hardcore criminals and recovered gold articles worth Rs 1.50 crore during the past six months. The criminal gangs are duping the train passengers by offering biscuits, soft drinks laced with intoxicants and robbing them while they are asleep.