Number of thefts increase in South Central Railway

Hyderabad: Offences like snatching of cell phones, chains and bag-lifting are taking place daily in South Central Railway despite tall claims of SCR officials and Government Railway Police (GRP) that adequate security is being provided to the travelling public and priority given to their safety. As many as two lakh persons travel on various trains run by SCR.

In an instance of crime, Venkat Chaitanya of Secunderabad travelled, along with his wife and children, by the Tirumala Express sleeper class (S7 PNR 4339945179, berths 27, 30 and 32) on Feb 5 from Madanapalle to Secunderabad.

The train left Madanapalle at 7 am and he noticed his trouser’s front left pocket cut and Rs 55,000 missing at 4.30 am the next day. He pulled the chain to stop the train and called the toll-free number-182 six times.
On seventh attempt, the call was received.

Chaitanya was told to lodge a complaint on reaching Secunderabad. No GRP or officials approached the coach during the next 45 minutes, when it stopped at Vikarabad, to know why.

He lodged a complaint on reaching Secunderabad at 8 am to GRP, who claimed that the area of incident was not under their jurisdiction. They registered a case, transferred it to Sedum. Speaking to The Hans India, Chaitanya wondered why when he had pulled the chain none bothered, wondering where was the security.

In another case, Sashi Mohan Kumar travelled by second AC (PNR 4551564079) by the Chennai Express along some relatives from Chennai to Hyderabad. When the train crossed Gudur/Guntur at about four her bag, containing a computer, two cell phones and Rs 6,000, was found missing. She asked the TTE and coach attendant. She told THI that both replied that they did not know. After the train crossed Guntur, two persons were allotted berths, but none knows where they got down.

Shashi lodged a complaint with GRP on reaching Secunderabad. They failed to give a proper reply and wanted her to come back later. She said in distress that security was lacking in second AC coaches, where no GRP was found moving. When questioned how berths were allotted without ID proof, she said, TTE failed to give a proper reply.

When the incidents were brought to his notice, GRP SP Ashok Kumar told THI that most thefts were occurring in Sedum (Karnataka), Guntur, Nadikudi, Miryalaguda. He said security has been stepped up and steps taken to prevent such incidents.

While stressing that passengers should take care of their belongings, the SP remarked that thefts were occurring in AC coaches as wealthy people travel in them. He said persons belonging to Haryana, Bihar, Solapur (Pardhi gang) were found to be involved in such incidents. Some have been caught.

Kumar asserted that SCR officials have been told not to allot berths without ID during travel. ‘But yet TTEs are doing so’. He complained of inadequate staff in Secunderabad GRP, pointing out escorts are provided to only important trains and not special trains/weekly trains.

A passenger from Visakhapatnam said SCR officials and GRP should focus attention on passengers’ safety, better services and prevent thefts.

By Ramesh Valmiki