SENTINELS OF THE RAILWAY - RPF

The Railway Protection Force is entrusted with the task of providing security to Railways and its properties. It provides security to trains and to passengers and their belongings in trains as well. To this end they use sniffer dogs, hand held metal detectors, door frame metal detectors, baggage scanners and a host of other equipments. With these they safeguard train passengers and ensure the security of trains.

Successful raids over suspects and criminals by RPF personnel of Southern Railway have resulted in booking of 386 cases during the period of January 2008 - June 2008. 12 criminals involved in theft of belongings of passengers have been apprehended and 475 pieces of abandoned baggage have been recovered. 110 injured passengers have received assistance from RPF personnel. More importantly, 202 runaway children found in trains and railway station premises were saved and handed over to the proper authorities. Illicit liquor worth Rs.53,900, Ganja worth Rs. 2,65,000 and rice worth Rs. 1,84,863 being smuggled in trains were seized.

The RPF has dog squads of its own. The squads consisting of sniffer dogs are based at all the divisional headquarters of this railway. The dogs of these squads I are given various trainings of high standards and have many achievements to their credit. 6 more dog squads are being established this year. Lassie, a dog from this zone bagged the Gold Medal in Explosive Sniffer Category in the All India Police Duty Meet in 2007.

The RPF has barracks and mobilization halls at various places. Construction of additional barracks at Chennai, Trichy, Dindigul, Shoranur etc. and office accommodation at Villupuram, Karur, Udhagamandalam etc. at a total cost of Rs. 196.73 lakhs is under progress. To address the grievances of the personnel, Suraksha Sammelans are held and the grievances are redressed immediately.

To keep abreast of the latest technologies and of the various methods in crime prevention and detection, promotional and refresher training courses are conducted at Training Centre, Trichy. Seminars, workshops and lectures by experts in various fields such as crime, human rights and personality development are regularly conducted.