Nitasha Natu TNN
Mumbai: Stung by repeated instances of attacks on woman commuters, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has identified vulnerable stretches on Western Railway (WR).
Most of these locations are in south and central Mumbai. The RPF will be cracking down on drug addicts and beggars in these stretches.
“The most sensitive stretch identified in the survey is the Marine Lines-Mumbai Central belt. Maximum deployment of RPF personnel is being made here. After that comes the stretch between Mahalaxmi and Dadar,” a senior official said.
“Office-goers throng the Mahalaxmi to Dadar belt during weekdays. But the belt is not as crowded on Sundays and public holidays,” the official added.For its “zero tolerance” drive, train ticket examiners have been roped in. “We want to ensure that not a single drug addict or beggar is present at the stretches ranked most sensitive. We do not want woman commuters to feel unsafe,” said senior RPF divisional security commissioner (WR) Rajendra Rupnawar. Nearly 1,500 drug addicts and beggars were rounded up by the Government Railway Police on WR and CR lines after a US national was mugged recently.
RPF’s woman squads have been interacting with female commuters on WR and briefing them about the helplines and how it is necessary for them to intervene in case a co-passenger is in distress. “We are facing an urgent personnel crisis,” an RPF official pointed out. “In order to guard areas outside each ladies compartment on platforms between Churchgate to Virar, we need 765 men in a single shift, assuming that only 12-coach rakes ply,” he added.
CRACKDOWN ON MISCREANTS RPF CAMPAIGN At sensitive stretches, beggars and drug addicts will not be allowed to remain on station area premises
Train ticket examiners will be enlisted for enforcement
WR’S SENSITIVE STRETCHES Marine Lines-Mumbai Central
Mahalaxmi-Dadar
WOMEN UNDER ATTACK Aug 18
US national Michelle Marks (24) is mugged by a drug addict between Marine Lines and Charni Road stations. Rajkumar Tiwari (31) is nabbed in connection with assault July 27
A nurse is molested in a 5.41am local at Mahalaxmi after GRP escort missed train.Commuters catch assailant May 2
Acid is flung at Delhi native Preeti Rathi after she alights at Bandra Terminus. Rathi succumbs to injuries after month. Pawankumar Gehlaun is arrested and later secures bail
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