Alarmed over an incident in the National Capital, wherein a gateman was attacked for asking miscreants to stop at a level crossing, Lucknow Division of Northern Railway has decided to temporarily deploy Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel at level crossings in remote areas in its jurisdiction.
“The Delhi incident is a serious issue. We are sending RPF cops at different railway crossings of UP falling under our division temporarily. They have been asked to prepare ground report on hindrances that a gateman faces while manning crossings. After a report is submitted, we will chart out a plan,” senior divisional commercial manager (DCM) Jagtosh Shukla said.
The railway official said that the Lucknow division would discuss the issue with the district administration and police and seek help for protection of gatemen. “Incidents of verbal spat and manhandling of gatemen have been reported in the past at several places but not in Lucknow,” Shukla added.
“Since the Indian railways did not have adequate number of RPF cops, hence they could not be deployed permanently at all level crossings of the Lucknow Division (NR). The RPF personnel inspect level crossings falling in urban areas,” Shukla said.
Gatemen working at level crossings in remote areas during night are prone to attack or manhandling by public, who insist on crossing even when a train is approaching. Most of these incidents go unreported or top officials ignore it. The RPF cops are usually deployed at railway stations or at workshops where their job is usually to stop trespassing and protect railway property. In case of any exigency, they are sent to level crossings but these issues are mostly handled by local police.
A top railway official chose to play down the murderous attack on the gateman in Delhi terming it as a ‘purely law and order situation’. “The case is being investigated by the Delhi police,” he said.
On what measures the Lucknow division officials are mulling to take in light of the Delhi attack, PRO of North Eastern Railway Alok Srivastava said that a strategy would be chalked out to meet such challenges. Interestingly, the maximum number of incidents in which gatemen were bullied/manhandled or attacked by the public are from Lucknow division of NER.
