DG RPF directs sr officers to check alertness of train escort teams

 

 

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) headquarters in New Delhi has directed senior officials of RPF to check alertnerss of train escort teams after obserinng lack of supervision. The guidelines were issued by Sanjay Chander, Director General (DG) and directed in strong words that Subordinate officer/Head Constable (HC) should be deployed in the composition of escort party as party in-charge. The escorting is a very important component to prevent crimes in running trains, officials said. The RPF of Central Railway, Nagpur Division, has also intensified escoring the trains on the basis of the guidelines to prevent crime, said Divisional Security Commandant (DSC) RPF Ashutosh Pandey on Monday. The circular recalled detailed escorting instructions issued on October 20, 2014 and further stated, “Recently, during surprise checks of RPF/RPSF train escorting parties conducted by Internal Vigilance Group (IVG)/ Railway Board, it was revealed that RPF Constables are leading the escort parties consisting of RPSF Constables and no Subordinate officer/Head Constable is deployed in the composition of escort party as party in-charge.”

 

“It reflects lack of supervision and monitoring of RPF escorts by Subordinate/Superior Officers. The escorting of trains has become a routine matter mesulting which RPF/RPSF staff deployed for train escorting and their supervisory officers are not performing their duties as prescribed,” the top rank RPF official observed and added that there was need to review the train escorting system in the Zones and revitalise the functioning/monitoring of Train Escorting staff to ensure the implementation of instructions already issued by Railway Board in true spirit. In the guidelines, the DG RPF instructed that as far as possible the escort party should consist of a Subordinate Officer (SO). In absence of SO, at least a Head Constable should lead the escort team.He also directed senior officers that the escort party must be briefed in detail by the Duty Officer about the issues peculiar to the train/section where they are being deputed, the criminals/anti-social elements active in that area and the Do's & Don'ts during escorting. “Duty officers wherever deployed may try to establish contact with maximum numbers of escort parties passing through their station of deployment during 22:00 Hrs to 04:00 Hrs of night,” said the DG RPF and added that a system of signature exchange in their beat books/command certificates may be put in place as evidence of contact established. He also instructed top rank officials to discuss effectiveness of escort checking, gaps noticed during such checking and system improvement during crime conferences of PCSCs and monthly crime meetings of Sr.DSC/DSC.

 

Nagpur RPF escorting 30 trains everyday The Central Railway Nagpur Division RPF is escorting 15 trains and their pairs (total 30) everyday. The RPF decides the top 15 escorting trains after taking a monthly crime review of the trains passing through the division. H Nizamuddin-Vishakapatnam Samta Express, Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto, Chennai-Delhi Duranto, Rajdhani Express along with trains running in the night hours and AC trains are being escorted by the RPF, said Sr. DSC Ashutosh Pandey.