No arrest yet in cases of stone pelting at trains
In the past three years, 16 such cases were reported from Kasargod and Kannur areas alone, and none was arrested.
KASARGOD: Authorities have no clue about how to stop the increasing cases of stone pelting at running trains.
In the past three years, 16 such cases were reported from Kasargod and Kannur areas alone, and none was arrested. The latest incident occurred at Kannapuram on Friday morning where the stone hit the Mangalore-bound Malabar Express.
Since January, there were five cases between Mangalore and Kanhangad - all of them at Kottikulam. Besides, the were incidents of removing elastic rail (ER) clips, laying iron rod and granite stones on the track reported from the same stretch.
“It’s not easy to nab the culprits who threw stones from the hilltop and ran away. Assuming that these are the handiworks of children and anti-social elements, we are undertaking an awareness drive in the area," said Palakkad additional divisional railway manager (ADRM) T. Rajkumar.
But the railway sources say removing ER clips on two days (July 24 and 26) near Kasargod Railway Station cannot be ignored as 'childish'. "There are many secluded spots along the stretch to carry out anti-social activities. Rather than RPF, local police has a key role in identifying the culprits," said a top railway official, who wished anonymity. So far, officials are not satisfied with the cooperation of local police. In May 2015, police had arrested three students for trying to put a granite stone on the railway track at Uppala. But they were let off after quizzing.
After that, they found a 35-kg iron rod on the rail in Manjeshwaram. In December, another granite stone was found near Kumbala Railway Station minutes before the passing of Okha Express. The removal of ER clips was detected while the tamping machine passed through the rack during an inspection.