THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Many of the plans announced by the government and the railways to strengthen train security after Soumya was pushed and killed from the Ernakulam-Shornur passenger train have not been implemented even after a decade. Soumya was killed on February 1, 2011, at Vallathol Nagar station.

More than a thousand trains run in the state on a daily basis. In a train with more than two dozen coaches, where at least four policemen are required, there is not even one to ensure protection. The current practice is to have policemen conduct random patrolling on a train that runs from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore or Palakkad.

There are 654 personnel including an SP in the Railway Police which is a part of the State Police. About 300 people will be on duty every day. After the duty time which lasts up to twelve hours, the next day is allotted for rest. More than fifty people will be on other duties related to court duty, case investigation, etc.

200 additional posts were created in the Railway Police after Soumya's murder, but the Railway Board, which has to bear half of the salary cost, approved only 484 posts out of the total 654. The government is also not ready to create more posts or hire people. Railway Police and RPF look after the duty in the trains. The Kerala Police guards the trains that do not have RPF protection. There is no police presence on passenger trains at night even after Soumya's murder. Although the number of women police has been increased, they are not assigned for night duty. Many of them are interested in office duties alone. Policemen are seen only in the reservation coaches in express trains. They never pay attention to the general coaches. Drunkards being a menace is a regular sight in general coaches including the ones on night express trains. Even if the passengers inform about it through rail alert, the general coaches cannot be entered directly by the police as they are separated. Police help can be obtained only if the train is stopped at a station. Police and railway police have been instructed to strengthen security at stations and trains after the Kozhikode incident, but there are not enough police to be deployed on all trains.

Unimplemented recommendations

CCTV surveillance and luggage scanners at all stations.
CCTV monitoring in trains (only Rajdhani Express has cameras)
Cut coaches should be avoided in trains.
Police security on all trains

Railway Stations in Kerala: 184

Route: 1027 km.

Police Station- 13

RPF Station -15

RPF Membership (Division)-450

Rail Alert No-9846200100. 112.