GUWAHATI RAILWAY STATION: Open exits help criminals make good their escape

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Numerous crimes, including drug peddling, smuggling, trafficking, theft etc., take place every day in the Guwahati Railway Station (GRS). How safe this railway station is for passengers is a genuine question. One of the reasons for such a situation is the open escaping passages for criminals from the railway station.

The Panbazar side luggage scanner of the railway station is working, but the one on the Paltan Bazar side is not working for a long time. It is a safe exit for criminals as they can give the security personnel the slip.

The railway station has open escape routes for criminals on the Panbazar side of the track. Often smuggled goods seized from trains in the railway stations turn out to be unclaimed. The reason is not far to seek – the criminals make good their escape through the open track when they see security personnel detecting the smuggled goods they transport.

NF Railway has installed 25 CCTV cameras in the railway station. It is too meagre to cover around 30,000-40,000 daily footfalls in the railway station.

According to NF Railway sources, the RPF strength in Guwahati Railway Station is 140, and a section of them is on unscheduled duty like parade, training, as PSOs of officers etc. The remaining personnel have to carry out checking and escorting of trains. They get little time to keep watch on crimes.

The RPF registered 3,091 cases in 2021 in Assam, besides arresting 3,162 people under the Indian Railway Act and the RP (UP) Act.

GRP of the Assam Police also registered 378 cases in 2021 in the state.

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