Railway Police Steps Up Security Measures Amid Rise in Crime on Mumbai Trains

The recent robberies on long-distance trains in Mumbai have prompted the Government Railway Police (GRP) to launch a special campaign to trace stolen mobile phones and deploy personnel to patrol trains. According to railway police commissioner Rakesh Kalasagar, 31 long-distance trains leave Mumbai every day, and from now on, two railway police personnel will be deployed in each train to protect passengers and curb criminal activities.

As a result of the increasing crimes on railway premises, 12,000 cases of theft were registered in 2022, including cases involving theft of mobile phones. However, in 2024, 11,143 mobile phones alone were stolen, taking the monthly average of mobile phone thefts to over 928.

Key Takeaways:

• The GRP has launched a special campaign to trace mobile phones stolen over the past five years, deploying personnel to patrol long-distance trains and curb criminal activities.
• 31 long-distance trains leave Mumbai every day, with two railway police personnel being deployed in each train to protect passengers.
• The recent robberies were indicative of increasing crimes on railway premises, with 12,000 cases of theft registered in 2022, including cases involving theft of mobile phones.
• In 2024, 11,143 mobile phones alone were stolen, taking the monthly average of mobile phone thefts to over 928.
• The GRP has formed teams within the crime detection branch of every railway police station to conduct technical investigations and recover stolen mobile phones.
• Most mobile phone thefts occur when commuters try to board trains or when they use phones carelessly while traveling on trains.
• Thefts of mobile phones, laptops, and luggage are most common on railway premises, followed by molestation cases.
• Four railway police personnel are deployed in every local train, including in ladies compartments, to curb such cases.
• The security measures will be enhanced with the support of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), with two personnel being deployed on every long-distance train.
• 758 RPF posts are currently vacant, with the recruitment process set to start soon.

Statistics:

• 31 long-distance trains leave Mumbai every day.
• 11,143 mobile phones were stolen in 2024, taking the monthly average of mobile phone thefts to over 928.
• Between January and May this year, over 3,576 mobile phones were stolen, taking the monthly average to over 715.
• 12,000 cases of theft were registered in 2022, including cases involving theft of mobile phones.
• 758 RPF posts are vacant, including 25% of officer posts and 16% of employee posts.

Sources:

• HT Digital Content Services with permission from Hindustan Times.