Railway Police chiefs stress on modernising security infra to tackle terrorist threats

Mumbai: Terrorist threats, the issue of inter-state criminal networks and drug menace besides remedial measures were discussed at a high-level meeting which stressed on the modernization of security infrastructure to meet the emerging challenges, especially in handling the increasing passenger crimes.

Various issues were discussed at 6th All India Conference of Government Railway Police Chiefs, organised under the aegis of the Railway Protection Force concluded successfully in New Delhi last week.

In a bid to dismantle organised inter-state criminal networks targeting high-value passenger belongings on the railway network, the Indian Railway (IR), the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are working on deploying proactive surveillance, coordinated operations across states and leveraging technology-backed solutions including facial recognition systems.

For this, the necessity of a unified response system among GRP units of different States and UTs was strongly emphasized to prevent jurisdictional gaps that are often exploited by offenders.

A critical presentation by the Intelligence Bureau highlighted potential terrorist threats to sensitive railway installations and the urgent need for vulnerability assessments and fortified security protocols.

The high-level conference, presided over by RPF Director General Manoj Yadava, witnessed the participation of DGPs, ADGPs, and senior officers from the GRP of various states and union territories, alongside representatives from the Ministry of Railways.

The conference began with the address by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, who emphasized the importance of collaborative approach between GRP and RPF in ensuring safety of millions of rail passengers across the country with special focus on passenger complaints and lodging of cases.

He also appreciated the efforts of RPF in ensuring safety of women and children on Railways through various initiatives like Operation Nanhe Farishte, Operation Aahat and Meri Saheli.

In his welcome address, RPF Director General Manoj Yadava, who presided over the conference, emphasized the need for modernization of security infrastructure to meet the emerging challenges, especially in handling the increasing passenger crimes.

A key focus area was the intensification of passenger awareness campaigns to educate travelers on common tricks and traps employed by thieves and fraudsters. The conference resolved to push for the seamless conversion of passenger property theft complaints lodged on the Rail Madad portal into formal FIRs, thereby boosting detection rates and discouraging repeat offenses.

Special attention was devoted to the worrying trends of crimes against women passengers, with the participants agreeing on robust preventive measures including targeted patrolling, CCTV cameras in stations and coaches and deployment of Meri Saheli teams to enhance the sense of security among women travelers.

The misuse of railway premises by drug traffickers and smugglers also came under the scanner, with strategies being discussed to curb such illegal activities through intensified checks and real-time intelligence inputs.

Additionally, the issue of child safety on railway premises was deliberated, focusing on mechanisms for timely identification and rehabilitation of vulnerable children being rescued from trafficking and exploitation risks.

"Crime control on the vast Indian Railways is not the responsibility of any single agency but a collective mission that demands synergy, coordination and shared intelligence. The resolve shown by GRP and RPF leadership across the nation today assures our commitment to making railway travel safer, more secure, and free from the threat of criminal elements. We stand united in our effort to protect every passenger, every child, and every corner of our railway network from harm,” said Yadava.