Kochi: Stone pelting at trains on the rise

Kochi: There is no end to the menace of stone-pelting at trains in Thiruvanathapuram division as a lady passenger sustained injuries on her head in the latest episode occurred at Paravur near Kollam the other day.

The regular commuters are on a protest path, demanding strict measures to curb the menace including charging of stringent provisions against accused and involvement of local police to catch the anti-social elements behind such crimes.

“Often miscreants go scot free as by the time the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel arrives at the scene, the accused would have already fled. Local residents too won’t co-operate with RPF cops. Hence local police should be directed to act upon getting any such alerts in co-ordination with the RPF,” said Liyons J, Secretary, ‘Friends on Rails’.

On August 14, 40-year old Sumitra, a Pollution Control Board (PCB) staff, was injured after a stone thrown by miscreants from outside hit her head soon as the train left the Paravur station.

Rail passengers’ association, ‘Friends on Rails’, has submitted a memorandum to the chief minister’s office, requesting involvement of local police. “Curren-tly the accused, even if caught, escapes with fine. The same should be made a criminal offense,” Liyons said.

The menace is reported the most from the Kochuveli-Kollam and the ErnakulamNorth – Aluva sections in the division. A total of 16 cases of stone-pelting were reported in the first five months this year as against 36 during the whole of last year. While 45 cases were reported in 2017, 28 cases were lodged in 2016. However, the RPF cops succeeded to arrest only a single person this year, seven last year, five in 2017 and four in 2016.