The Indian Railways on Thursday said that as part of its ‘Mission Jeewan Raksha’ the Railway Protection Force (RPF) saved the lives of 601 people and rescued 630 others from human traffickers during 2021.
While it retrieved luggage worth over Rs 23 crore it also escorted 522 oxygen special trains last year when the country needed additional medical oxygen supply at the peak of second phase of Covid pandemic.
As per a statement. the RPF also ensured implementation of Covid-appropriate behaviour at trains and stations.
“26 RPF personnel died after contracting Covid while on duty,”the statement said.
It also informed that Head Constable Gyan Chand laid down his life while saving a woman attempting to commit suicide in March 2021 at Bharwari Railway Station, NCR (Uttar Pradesh).
Under “Mission Jeewan Raksha,” the RPF has saved the lives of 1,650 people in the last four years. RPF is also an immediate responder in cases of human trafficking through rail transport and plays a key role in curbing this menace, rescued 630 people, including 54 women, 94 girls, 81 men and 401 boys.
It also rescued more than 11,900 children in need of care and protection. A total of 132 child help desks are functional across the country.
Last year, the RPF arrested more than 3,000 criminals involved in offences against passengers and handed them over to the GRP/police.
A total of 8,744 people were arrested for damaging railway property and over 4,600 people involved in illegal ticketing were apprehended in 2021.
With the arrest of 620 drug peddlers, the RPF seized narcotics worth Rs 15.7 crore.
The RPF personnel also apprehended more than 25,000 people unauthorisedly travelling in the coaches reserved for women and 9,307 people from the coaches reserved for persons with disabilities during 2021.