Taking note of the incidents involving crimes against women, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has geared up to prevent crimes against women passengers during train journey and in the station premises.
Adequate proactive measures have been taken by the ECoR to prevent crimes against women passengers including holding of mass awareness programmes to ensure prompt and immediate action in case of any untoward incidents, an official release said.
Passenger awareness programmes by the RPF have been launched at important stations in the past few months. These would again be conducted to highlight measures taken by the railway.
A Quick Response Team has been formed at the ECoR headquarters to monitor such incidents and facilitate provision of immediate assistance in the event of occurrence of incidents in trains or in railway premises. A helpline number 08455885777 has been started and women in distress may call this number for immediate help.
Special Squads deploying women RPF staff have been formed and they would keep strict vigil on elements creating problems for women passengers in trains and at railway stations. Special Task Force (STF) teams would also conduct drives in trains with special emphasis on ladies’ compartments.
During April-October of this year, a total number of 438 cases were prosecuted by the RPF in the ECoR jurisdiction under Section 162 of the Railways Act dealing with entering the carriages or other places reserved for women.