Life imprisonment for stone pelters: Railways cracks down after string of injuries

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move to ensure passenger safety, the Railways has announced that individuals caught throwing stones at moving trains will be charged under Sections 152 and 154 of the Railways Act. Conviction under these sections carries severe penalties, ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.

Recent incidents and rising trends

The decision follows a recent attack on the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express on Monday night, where Aishwarya, a student at Aluva UC College, sustained serious injuries.

Stone-pelting incidents are reportedly on the rise in Kerala, involving minors, local youth, and migrant workers. Data reveals a national crisis as well: between July and December of last year, 1,698 cases were reported across India, resulting in 665 arrests.

Key incidents in Kerala:

• Kochi: Two Plus-One students from Nedumangad pelted stones at the Alappuzha-Chennai train "for fun," resulting in a head injury to a Fire Force officer.
• Nedumbassery: A man targeted the Vande Bharat Express across three rounds of stone-pelting, citing "love failure" as his motive.
• Kozhikode: Two passengers were injured during an attack on the Tirunelveli-Jamnagar Express.
• Aroor: The front windshield of a Kannur Intercity Express engine was shattered by stones.
• Palaruvi Express: A native of Thoothukudi suffered a severe eye injury due to an attack.

Railway response and surveillance

Beyond the physical danger to the 11 lakh daily passengers in Kerala, these attacks impose a significant financial burden, particularly due to the high cost of replacing the specialized glass on Vande Bharat rakes.

To combat this, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has intensified patrolling and identified "hotspots" for increased surveillance. Measures include:

• Deployment of Drones: High-altitude monitoring in high-risk zones.
• CCTV Expansion: Increased camera coverage, specifically in areas like Kollam Perinad.
• Public Cooperation: Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activity near tracks to prevent further sabotage.

"Stone pelting is a grave security threat that endangers lives. We urge the public to cooperate with us to ensure that train travel remains safe for everyone." — Railway Authorities