Stones pelted at Vandhe Bharat express in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Unidentified persons pelted stones at Mysuru-Chennai Vande Bharat train (20608) in between Krishnarajapuram-Bengaluru cantonment in Bengaluru on Saturday causing damages to window panes of the train, however, no passengers were injured in the stone pelting incidents.

A release from South Western Railway, Bangalore Division on Saturday said the Railway Protection Force registered 21 stone pelting cases in January and 13 cases of stone pelting in February till date in South Western Railway, Bangalore Division. In all the 34 stone pelting cases this year, none of the passengers have sustained injuries.

However, the release made no mention of persons arrested in connection with stone pelting at trains. But, such stone pelting have been reported in Lottegollahalli-Kodigehalli, Bayyappanahalli-Channasandra, Channasandra-Yelahanka, Chikkabanavara-Yeshwantpur sections and also near Tumakuru, Banaswadi, Carmelaram and Bengaluru cantonment areas.

A railway official told Deccan Chronicle that such stone pelting incidents have been reported despite increased vigil and awareness drives being conducted by RPF personnel at stone pelting locations.

The release warned that stone pelting incidents on trains is a non-bailable offence and under section 152 of Railways Act, if any person hurls stones at a train shall be punishable for life imprisonment or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years.