Operation Rakshitha launched to ensure women's safety on trains

Thiruvananthapuram | The Railway police in Kerala on Friday launched Operation Rakshitha to ensure the safety of women passengers on trains across the state, officials said.

The drive was launched in the wake of a recent incident in which a woman was kicked out of a running train by a drunken man at Varkala.

As per a press release from the Kerala Information and Public Relations Department, the initiative is being implemented jointly by the railway police and the local police.

“The operation is carried out in four zones — Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Palakkad, and Kozhikode — under the supervision of four Railway DYSPs,” a statement said.

According to police officials, women police officers and other personnel will conduct intensified patrolling on trains and platforms, with special focus on compartments where women passengers travel in large numbers.

“The primary aim of the initiative is to ensure the safety of women passengers in trains and railway stations and to prevent illegal activities such as travelling under the influence of alcohol, drug trafficking, and indecent behaviour towards women,” the press release said.

To identify intoxicated passengers, breath analyser devices have been introduced at 38 railway stations.

Railway Protection Force (RPF), railway police, and local police have strengthened patrolling to identify those who throw stones at trains or place objects on the tracks to cause accidents, the press release said.

Bomb squads and narcotics units are conducting checks in stations and trains to detect drugs, banned tobacco products, and hawala money.

Arrangements have been made for emergency inspections with the assistance of bomb and dog squads in the event of unattended bags or suspicious objects.

Efforts are also underway to trace individuals evading arrest in pending railway cases and those against whom courts have issued warrants.

Awareness programmes involving railway passenger associations, porters, and vendors are being organised as part of the safety initiative, under the supervision of the railway police, officials said.

Additional police personnel will be deployed on platforms and trains in the coming days.

Operations will be coordinated by a control room at the DYSP's intelligence headquarters, the press release said.

Preventive actions, including arrests, will be taken to deter habitual offenders, and steps will be initiated to detain repeat offenders under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA).

The Railway police said that passengers who notice any suspicious persons or objects are requested to inform nearby police personnel or contact the Rail Alert Control at 9846200100, the ERSS Control at 112, or the Railway Helpline at 139.