Playing with fire on railway track; continuous attempts to sabotage trains in Kerala; around 100 attempts in 10 years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There have been about 100 attempts to sabotage trains in Kerala in the last ten years by placing posts, trees, stones and concrete slabs on the tracks. These attempts are challenging the safety of lakhs of passengers. The police and the railways, who are writing it off as the act of anti-social elements and drunkards, are not finding out if there was an organized plan.

The latest incident was the attempt to sabotage the Palaruvi Express twice by placing telephone posts on the tracks in Kundara. NIA is also investigating the case since the sabotage attempts are suspected to be linked to terrorism. The main challenge for the investigation is the lack of CCTV footage as they are deserted places. Surveillance on the tracks has been intensified. The railways are also raising awareness about the consequences of sabotage attempts.

The state is demanding that the Centre take over train security. However, the central position is that maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the states. Filing cases, investigating and security on the train are the responsibility of the police. The protection of railway assets and properties is entrusted to the RPF.

Stones and concrete on track

• 34 holes were made using a drilling machine on the track in Kozhikode. 13 grills on the Kumbalam bridge in Kochi were removed and placed on the track. Closets and stones were placed on the track in the Kasaragod tunnel
• Shoranur - Nilambur Passenger's brakes and feeder pipes were cut at 30 places. Huge rock on Kumbla-Kasaragod track. Rock on the bridge at Valapattanam and between 50 meters of rails in Thenmala.
• Iron bars at the track joints in Ferok. 11 clips that secured the track to the concrete were removed in Alappuzha. Explosives on the track in Kallai.
• Concrete slabs and wooden pieces were laid on the track at Thalayolaparambu.
• Old bridge was placed on the track at Kayamkulam. Signal cable cut at five places in Kallai

Up to 20 years in prison

A crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Non-bailable sections including BNS 327(1) for disrupting the movement of aircraft, ships and railways, BNS 150(1A) for sabotage of trains, and 153 of the Railways Act will be imposed.

Number of Train Passengers

(One Year Estimate)

Thiruvananthapuram-------------1.31 Crore

Kozhikode----------------------- 1.14 Crore

Ernakulam South-----------------87.96 Lakh

Kollam---------------------------82.75 Lakh

Kannur---------------------------72.11 Lakh

Thrissur--------------------------69.35 Lakh

Ernakulam Town-----------------50.13 Lakh

Palakkad-------------------------47.61 Lakh

Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad Divisions Revenue: 3000 Crore