GUWAHATI: During continual checks and drives from May 16 to May 22, 2023, at various trains and railway stations over N. F. Railway, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of N. F. Railway successfully rescued 42 people, including 36 juveniles, 2 mentally challenged men, 2 women, and 2 girls. RPF also detained two people who were engaged in human trafficking.
Rescued individuals were reportedly given to their relatives after being verified in accordance with safe custody standards. The rescue operations were conducted at various locations i.e. Katihar, Purnea, Barsoi, Kumedpur, New Bongaigaon, Rangiya, Kamakhya, Guwahati, Mariani, Tinsukia, New Jalpaiguri, New Tinsukia & Dimapur railway stations.
On April 17 and 18, 2023, while conducting regular inspections at various trains and railway stations around N. F. Railway, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of N. F. Railway successfully saved nine minors and a woman. During this time, the RPF also caught one tout who was selling train tickets illegally.
Drives were held at several places in the Katihar, Guwahati, Dimapur, Kamakhya, Kishanganj, and New Tinsukia stations on April 17 and 18, 2023. The RPF of NFR was able to find and save nine runaway kids (six girls and three boys) and one runaway woman throughout the drive. After being properly verified, all of the youngsters and women who had been saved were later sent to their respective child lines in accordance with the rules for safe custody and family members.
RPF and Association of Voluntary Action, popularly known as Bachpan Bachao Andolan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in RPF and Railway men raid, rescue, and information exchange on human trafficking. Association of Voluntary Action is a foundation founded by Nobel Laureate Sri Kailash Satyarthi.
It is to note that, from October 17, 2020, a programme called "Meri Saheli” project was started to protect female long-distance train passengers, especially women who are travelling alone or are at risk of crime. Other preventive measures are also being put into place to ensure the safety of female passengers, including train escorting, CCTV systems at 864 stations and roughly 6646 coaches, female escorts in trains, mixed escorts in trains, regular drives against unauthorized passengers in women's coaches, etc.
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