Western Railway RPF Saves 18 Lives, Protects 378 Children

Ahmedabad : In a commendable display of dedication and bravery, the Western Railway Protection Force (RPF) has saved the lives of 18 individuals from January to June 2024, often risking their own safety. Under "Operation Jeevan Raksha," and "Operation Nanhe Farishte," they rescued 378 children, coordinating with Child Welfare Committees (CWC) and NGOs to reunite them with their families.

The RPF's achievements extend beyond rescue operations. Under "Operation Amanat," they returned valuables worth more than Rs 5 crore to their rightful owners. They achieved a 90% recovery rate of stolen railway property and registered over 98,000 cases under the Railway Act, collecting fines exceeding Rs 2.27 crore. Anti-encroachment drives were conducted under "Operation Bhoomi."

Vineet Abhishek, Western Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer, highlighted RPF's role in passenger safety through "Mission Yatri Suraksha." By June 2024, RPF had resolved over 17,000 complaints via Rail Madad, Twitter, and Helpline No. 139, and apprehended more than 400 criminals, handed over to the State Police for legal action.

Under "Mission Mahila Suraksha," RPF acted against offenders in women's coaches, collecting over Rs 1.61 crore in fines. They deployed "Meri Saheli" teams on 31 trains and launched the "e-Meri Saheli" campaign at major stations to ensure women's safety. "Operation Narcos" led to the recovery of contraband worth over Rs 14.43 lakh and the arrest of 14 individuals.

RPF also ensured ticket availability through "Operation Avail," seizing tickets worth over Rs 2 crore illegally booked by 372 brokers. A major case in Surat involved the recovery of e-tickets worth over Rs 5 lakh.

"Operation Samay Palan" focused on train punctuality, resulting in over 2,700 arrests for unauthorized alarm chain pulling. Around 12,000 awareness programs were conducted under "Operation Jan Jagran" to educate the public about stone pelting and encroachment.

Under "Operation Dignity," RPF rescued 150 passengers in need of care, and "Operation Sewa" assisted 53 individuals with medical aid, baby food, wheelchairs, and stretchers. "Operation Satark" targeted illicit transportation, recovering items worth about Rs 23 lakh and arresting 364 persons.

RPF also contributed to ticket checking and cleanliness drives under "Operation Sahyog," and took action against unauthorized vendors under "Operation Doosra," prosecuting over 42,000 offenders and collecting fines exceeding Rs 1.17 crore. Several RPF personnel received departmental certificates and one was awarded the Indian Police Medal.

Vineet Abhishek emphasized RPF's commitment to assisting passengers, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, to prevent child trafficking and assist passengers, especially women and children. The RPF's initiatives from January to June 2024 reflect their dedication to passenger safety, crime prevention, and overall railway security.