WITH an aim to beef up security of train passengers, Central Railway Nagpur Division has given Body-Worn Cameras System (BWCS) for Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel. The cameras would be effective to check alertness of personnel, m a i n t a i n transparency and inside train activities, said Sr D i v i s i o n a l S e c u r i t y Commandant Ashutosh Pandey. The cameras are in addition to the existing CCTVs installed in the railway station premises and the railway officials are sure about its effectiveness in fighting against crimes. A total of 25 of BWCS have been procured and handed-over to RPF personnel by the Nagpur division.

 

 

Each camera equipped with a rechargeable battery and recording unit cost around Rs 8,500. Sr DSC Pandey informed ‘The Hitavada’ that the cameras would enhance the capabilities of security personnel during escorting of trains. By inserting a SIM card, the RPF personnel would be able to send the videos to the RPF control room, he said. He also believed that it would increase confidence among the passengers and RPF staff and likely to reduce anti-social behaviour. The cameras will continuously monitor and record situations with RPF personnel. The recorded footage can be analyzed later, whenever required to identify the movements of any suspension person, he said. As the cameras will capture faces of passengers during escorting, the footage will help to identify anti-socials later on the basis of complaints received from the passenger, said Sr DSC Pandey, adding that transparency and behaviour of RPF personnel with passengers wouldalso be checked with the footage.

 

The RPF staff will be more vigilant while performing their duty with the knowledge that their actions are being recorded and monitored. While serving as DSC of South East Central Railway (SECR), 10 such cameras were procured for the RPF staff for the first time. The cameras were helpful in solving drugging and theft cases that took place on running trains, recalled Pandey. More cameras will be procured soon after analyzing success rate, he added.