Following a notice from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Railway Board has informed the commission that armed personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are deployed in all passenger trains passing through Odisha at night.
The Railway Board’s measures have come after the looting and attack on passengers travelling by the Puri-Khordha train by some dacoits at Malatipatpur between Sakhigopal and Delanag stations in January this year. At least 14 passengers were attacked and robbed in the moving train, the complaints of which were not received by the general police at Kanasa.
Advocate and social activist Nishikant Mishra had approached the NHRC in an application alleging that due to absence of security personnel in trains at night, the passengers are facing such nuisances regularly. Mishra had alleged that the armed dacoits had boarded the ill-fated train at Puri.
Pursuant to the NHRC notice, the railway SP at Cuttack had submitted a report before the commission admitting the fact. The SP had also informed that the dacoits were soon arrested and the stolen articles and cash were recovered from them.