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krishnaseshadri; safety and security of rail passengers; seshadrivikrala views and vision; answers. com. user seshavikrala; railways security RPF and my vision…

Sub: IQPC: Suggest a Conference or New Topic Area:

THE MISSING DIMENTIONS OF SAFETY AND SECURITY

OF THE RAIL PASSENGHERS OVER INDIAN RAILWAYS SYSTEM:

Kindly connect to my earlier emails sent to you on the subject matter.

( Former) Honourable President of India Dr. A. P.J. Abdul Kalam has presented the Presidential Colours to the Railway Protection Force on 22^nd May, 2006 with certain observations and suggestions to the RPF / the Government of India, the Ministry of Railways, the Railway Board, New Delhi, to make rail journey safer and secure to the 12 million people including the tourists who are making use of the rail services every day.

The Hon’ble President reiterated:

(1) the need to remove the division of responsibility between the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF);

(2) for empowering the RPF with legal powers to tackle all cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special Acts so that there is a single point of responsibility for tackling crimes against railway passengers.

The vision and the great expectations of the former Honourable President of India WAS that the Railway Protection Force should aim for realization of such a level of safety by the year 2010. (source: Indian Railways”- Monthly Magazine--July-2006, and also July, 2007).

I hereby submit my proposals, the hurdles, inferences, and the like matters – in the form of SYNOPSIS- which are coming up for discussions and later the matter is being side lined on several aspects- like Constitution of India Schedule of powers and other factors on the Law and Order, sharing of responsibilities between different State Governments, the Central Government; the privileges that are being given to the RPF(Railway Projection Force)by the Ministry of Railways; the working of the GRP(Government Railway Police) under the control and command of different State Governments, other CPOs(Central Police Organizations) and the like.

I: Articles written by me and sent for publication:

· THE MISSING DIMENSIONS ON SECURITY AND SAFETY OF PASSENGERS-A POINT OF VIEW-

· IN WHOSE HANDS THE SAFETY AND SECURTIY OF THE PASSENGER’S OVER INDIAN RAILWAYS STAND???

· Private Industrial security system and services.

· My blogs: krishnaseshadri; safety and security of rail passengers; seshadrivikrala views and vision; answers. com. user seshavikrala; railways security RPF and my vision…

II:

· Working of RPF, GRP and the State Government’s District Police Forces.

· Working of RPF- Relevant Acts like the RPF Act; Railways Act; RP (UP) Act;

· Preamble of the RPF Act;

· Working of the GRP; Any relevant Act by which it was incorporated, and the like;

· State (District) Police working over Railways in place of GRP; Jurisdiction of the railway track and other places of the Railways covered;

· In how many States/UTs there is GRP , the reasons for not establishing GRP and entrusting the District Police to take care of the Railways also:

· The Metro Railway working system and the Police/GRP/RPF working over the Metro Railways;

· The Tramways working system and Police/GRP/RPF working over the Tramway system;

·

III: Constitution of India:

· What are the Provisions contained for the Central Government, the States, the Union Territories about administration, establishment, maintenance and control of the Police/GRP/RPF conferment of powers for and to take care of the safety and security of the rail passengers on/over Indian Railways, Metro Railways, and the Tramways systems;

· What are the relation between the Union and the States/UTs on this matters;

· What are the stipulations incorporated in The Schedules of the Indian Constitution about the Railways, the Metro Rail, and Tramways; who are empowered to construct, maintain railways, metro rail and tramways; what are the different provisions for them to adopt and apply for making a solitary unformed Police Force; what are the differential points to identify there individual and or different aspects of working and under whose authority State or Central;

IV:

Ways and means : Suggestions :

IQPC: Suggest a Conference or New Topic Area:

Email sent to IQPC: to start with for strategic and operational planning for effective delivery of all aspects of and over safety and security of the Railway, I feel one shall not forget that the Railway is and always is fully depending on its commuters. First of all, one also shall think of the rail passenger’s safety and security while they travel by train.

What shall be the safety and security of the railway passengers? Very simple to say! But, it is found to be very difficult and hazardous to go for implementation. Same thing could not solve for the last 50-60 years in India. The friction always lies about the Constitutional provisions, Central and the States Governments powers and liabilities, Crime, Law and Order sharing matters, and the like.

As a via media, there shall be some type amendments to the RPF Act, and/or to the Railways Act which does not confer Police Powers to the RPF and as usual, the GRP/at some places the District Police alone have the Law and Order, IPC cases investigation powers of registration, investigation an prosecution continues, with out any Change.

The rail passenger's physical security and safety and security of their belongings while they travel in train, like that of a passenger on board. Is it forthcoming or not? One shall answer with whole nearsightedness and openly agree its pros and cons.

In this connection kindly go through the following Articles—(1): The Article “(THE MISSING DIMENSIONS ON SECURITY AND SAFETY OF Rail PASSENGERS-A POINT OF VIEW) - (“INDIAN RAILWAYS”- MONTHLY MAGAZINE-JUNE-2007-PAGES-35-36) is written by me and published.

(2):As a reference and to ventilate the working system of the Force and the Government Railway Police in and over the Indian Railways, the views and expectations brought by the former Honorable President of India, as appeared in an Article “ (PRESIDENT OF INDIA PRESENTS PRESIDENTIAL COLOURS TO RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE) (“INDIAN RAILWAYS”- MONTHLY MAGAZINE-JULY-2006-PAGE-5) ;

(3): IN WHOSE HANDS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE PASSENGER’S OVER INDIAN RAILWAYS STAND???(Sent for publication-not yet published);I:

Rail Safety & Security Asia 2011 Conference:

The agenda will look at critical issues in safety and security in railway systems especially with reference to design, development, operations, technology, human factors, risk assessment, policies and regulations, financing and maintenance. Who are the executives attending: Rail Operators – Chairman, CXO, Presidents, Director Generals and Heads of Maintenance, Corporate Comms, Rolling Stock, Comms & Signalling, Business Development, Projects, Bids & Contracts, Information Systems, Ticketing, Planning & Development, Safety & Security, Structural Engineering, Facilities, Sustainability & Climate Change.

Govt – Ministers, Vice Ministers, Advisers, Heads of Projects, Finance, Infrastructure, Planning & Development, Contracts – responsible for transport planning, developing, rail, high speed rail development

Industry – Chairman, CXOs MDs, Presidents, VPs, Heads of Business Development, New Markets, Contracts

Advisors/Consultants/Lawyers/Financiers/Investors/Bankers who are interested in rail infrastructure industry in the Asia pacific region

Other include:: Those who are in the ports, airports and shipping industries with an interest in rail and rail links.

And

· Government executives responsible for high speed rail development

· Transport Planners and Developers

· Rail Infrastructure Managers and Operators

· Train manufacturers and suppliers

· Rail associations and Research bodies

· Financiers

· Developers

· Investors

· Regulators

· Rail system owners

· Technology providers

· Heads of High Speed Rail, Engineering & Construction, Signalling & Communications, Rolling Stock, Energy & Power

· Maintenance providers

· Safety, Security and Risk Directors

· Operations Directors

· Freight and Logistics Directors

· Media

II: India: Passengers concerned over security at railway station

The GRP, at this moment is facing man-power crunch and even though the GRP has been maintaining close liaisons with the State Police and Government Railway Police as and when required, it is certainly not the right thing to do every time,? Government Railway Police: It is only about Vijayawada Division of South Central Railway (guess about other Railway divisions and Zones over Indian Railways) Manpower crunch, equipment shortage hit Government Railway Police:The Hindu: Saturday, Apr 02, 2011-ePaper :Against sanctioned strength of 884 persons, force being manned only by 411.It has jurisdiction over a major portion of coastal districts of State

The entire incident lasted for three minutes but not a single police officer or Government Railway Police ( GRP) officer was found inside the Metro Railway station.

Link:Man shot dead inside Metro station in Kolkata. :

III: Physical/personal safety and security of rail passengers shall be the paramount importance for the Indian Railways:

Physical safety and security is one of the most important matters for any of the rail passengers; they feel to have his and his family member’s physical safety and security and also of the things, rail passenger’s bag and baggage carrying with him or with them and wants to travel in the compartment at ease with 100% confidence that he Railways shall and is taking care of their physical safety and security not only personal but also of all the belongings they carry with them.

Most of the rail passengers carry luggage with out any type of booking unlike in flights; they tend not to book under railway rules or to insure them. Booking of the luggage or insuring them has its own Rules and the railways take care of them in some other way and in all most of the cases these luggage once booked for carriage has to be handed over to the railway authorities for transit up to destination… They have to disclose and give value to each and every item/thing made available in the bag baggage. If they book under said to contain, they railways have some other type of liability, by which the rail passenger shall be paid the minimum of the compensation they claimed or as per its weight formulae. In most of the cases the rail passenger wants to carry his luggage with him and wants that it is kept under his personal control. There are several types of safety and security preventive measures adopted by the passengers and the railways too have provided lots of amenities like safety hooks, lock and chains, and the like.

Another aspect is about his physical or personal safety. The rail passenger wants that he being an authorized passenger with a bonafied rail travel authority; he should be protected and safe guarded by the Railways. He always expects that this matter should be taken into consideration at all times by the Railways.

In India, there are two types of Unformed Armed/Police Forces working for the Indian Railways, viz: the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF).

There are many ways and means to take and tackle safety security precautions in different situations.

Taking proper precautions to ensure physical and personal safety is very important. Some form of protection offered by the Railways is helpful in guarding physical safety and security and also works as a preventive step to ward criminal interference like gold chain snatchings, theft, bag lifting,. Lootings, dacoit, physical attacks, and the like; it is advisable not to depend on the others, but to have your own arrangements and always keep physical safety in mind.

VI: Early history of the Railway Protection Force:

(1854-1861): The maintenance and security of Railways, the vital artery of national communication and economic progress has been a major concern of the Government of India that goes back to the times when the Railway commenced their operations in India in 1854. Since railways have a linear territory traversing inter-state lines, a foolproof security system has been hard to provide. Nevertheless, the genesis of such an endeavor can be traced back to 1854 when East Indian Railways employed certain staff designated as ‘Police’ to denote its own force by enacting the Police Act, 1861 and deployed a contingent for the security of the railway with the owner companies bearing their upkeep. The Railway Companies exercised full control over the Police Force. (1861-1956): On the recommendation of Railway Police Committee, 1872, Railway Police was organized into ‘Govt. Police’ (The precursor of GRP) for Law enforcement and ‘Company Police’ (The precursor of RPF) for Watch and Ward duties in Railways. The actual separation of duties came into effect in 1881. By 1882, as a result of formal division of the Police Force deployed on the railways into “Government Police” and “Private (Companies) Police”, the Railway Companies directly assumed the responsibility of protection and Security of their property as well as of the goods entrusted to them by public for carriage. For this, they appointed “Chowkidars” for various departments and placed them under control of their local departmental heads. With an increase in commercial traffic and consequential steep rise in the incidence of theft of goods entrusted to railways for carriage, the “Chowkidar” system was reorganized after the first World War onto Watch & Ward organization under a single superior officer designated as Superintendent, Watch & Ward – a system which continued up to 1954.Thus the Railway Police Administration functioned under three different systems viz the district system, as a part of District Police; the provincial system, for each province and the Railway Administration system, separate Railway Police for each Railway Administration inspite of recommendations of Indian Police commission, 1902-03. The provincial system found acceptance on recommendation of Railway Police Committee, 1921 and the present GRP came into existence. The ‘Company Police’ evolved into present RPF in 1957 passing through "Watch and Ward" phase from 1872-1954, and as "Railway Security Force" from 1954-1956. RPF was also given limited legal powers under Railway Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act. (1957-1985): Thus, for a full 100 years, the Force though being used for providing security to the vital artery of national communication and economic progress did not itself have any legislative status. Therefore the Govt. instituted a special enquiry through Director, Intelligence Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs) who in his report in 1954 forcefully brought out the necessity of organising the Watch & Ward on a statutory basis. The Railway Board also appointed a Security Adviser to the Railway Board in July, 1953 to work out the details for the reorganisation of the Watch & Ward department. It was decided in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs that there should be an integrated well organised force on the model of the Police with adequate supervisory staff specially trained to meet the particular aspects of crime that were relevant to Railway property and to work in close collaboration and act as a second line to the States Police with whom, under the Constitution, policing on Railways rested. This led to the R.P.F. Bill for the better protection and security. It was only on 29 August 1957 that a Railway Protection Force Act was enacted by the Parliament and Railway Security Force was renamed as Railway Protection Force. The RPF Rules were made on 10 September 1959 and RPF Regulations wee formulated in 1966.In the meantime in 1962 “Special Emergency Force” has been raised from the existing strength of RPF during Chinese Aggression, which was especially entrusted the task to protect trains in border districts. In 1965 it has been renamed as “Railway Protection Special Force”. In 1966 RPF has been given legal powers for better protection of Railway property by enacting Railway Property (Unlawful Possession.) Act. But, while the provisions of RPF Act were soon found wanting for the maintenance of an effective and disciplined Force, the RPF Rules and Regulations too were found judicially unsound. The RPF Act, 1957 was accordingly modified by Parliament vide Act No.60 of 1985 on 20 September 1985 for the constitution and maintenance of the Force as an armed force of the Union. For carrying out the purposes of the Act, RPF Rules 1987 was framed.

Role of R P F, GRP & District Police

1. Indian Railways: An Overview

2. Policing on the Railways

3. Evolution of RPF & GRP

4. Organizational Structure of RPF & GRP

5. Duties of GRP, District Police & RPF

6. Crime Scenario – Pattern and Geographical Spread

7. Passenger - Expectation and Preventive measures.

8. Quest for a Change of guard.

9. A Road map to future policing

RAILWAY CRIMES, THE ROLES OF RPF, GRP AND LOCAL POLICE

1) Indian Railways: An Over view:

Indian Railways is the world's largest transport organization, and

covers a vast network of a 63,122 rout Kilometers, carrying about 13.7

million passengers and lifting more than million tons freight daily.

The Railways are a basic infrastructure traversing the length and

breadth of the country, and is organized into 16 Railway Zones. Crime

control in an organization of such magnitude is a unique challenge in

itself. Railway crime has a peculiarity of its own, since it affects a wide

spectrum of the public and is always a hot subject with the media.

2) Policing on the Railways:

Security and policing on the Railway is broadly shared by 3 different

agencies i.e.

a) The Government Railway Police (GRP)

b) The District Police

c) The Railway Protection Force (RPF). However, it is the RPF

& GRP, which share the bulk of the duties within Railway area.

A glimpse in to the historical background of these two Forces, viz

the RPF and GRP is essential to appreciate their working and their

nature of interaction with the public.

3. Evolution of RPF & GRP:

The history of the two Forces can be traced back to the introduction

of Railway in 1853. The private Railway companies initially raised their

own police by the name of “Company Police”, but with the enactment of

the Indian Police Act in 1872, all private polices were banned. Thereafter

a unique concept of a Railway security system came into being,

according to which the then British Government provided the policing and

the Railway companies, in turn, paid the charges. Thus originated

‘Government Railway Police’ and this nomenclature continued even after

the Railways were nationalised.

Apart from policing, the Railway companies were also besieged

with thefts of materials from their premises, to tackle which, was evolved

a pvt security system which finally emerged as the RPF in its present

state.

4) Organisational Structures Of RPF & GRP:

The RPF is headed by a Director General who is from among the

senior -most IPS officers in the country. The Security Directorate at the

Rail Bhavan in New Delhi is the apex policymaking body of the Force. At

the Zonal Railway level the Force is headed by the Chief Security

Commissioners (CSC) of the rank of IG or DIG assisted by the DSCs in

each Division.

The GRP has an almost identical organizational structure in each

state. The Director General of Police of the State also controls the GRP,

which is one of the several wings of the State Police. The GRP chief is

normally an ADG or IG/Railways assisted by a DIG/Railways. The

Railway area in each state is under the control one or more Superintends

of Railway Police (SRP).

The non-gazetted cadre for both the forces are along a similar

structure.

5) Duties Of GRP,District Police & RPF:

Policing the railway premises is done differently by different states.

The Government Railway Police plays a major role in Railway policing

and its main function include:

a) Maintenance of Law and order in the Railway premises.

b) Security of passengers and their baggage

c) Control and prevention of all heinous crimes in trains and

railway premises.

d) Registration, Investigation and Prosecution of all such

offences.

The GRP has a running jurisdiction of the railway track, confined

to 10 ft on either Side of the track. In some states the sharing of the

jurisdiction between the GRP and the District Police is done differently in

that the station limit come under GRP whereas the mid-section is the

District police's purview. There is no uniform pattern in this.

The jurisdiction of the District Police includes protection of the

Railway track from sabotage and also extends to Railway bridges,

besides maintenance Law and Order in civil areas adjoining the Railways

and attending to major problems in Railway areas which may have

repercussions in the civil areas.

The RPF has a jurisdiction that covers all railway areas

wherever Railway property exists. The Role of the RPF is:

a) To protect Railway Property, Railway Passenger and passenger

areas.

b) To ensure safety, security in trains so as to boost the confidence of

the traveling public.

c) To coordinate security related activities between the various

agencies involved.

The main area of activity of RPF includes action against Railway

Property offenders for which powers of arrest and enquiries in to the

cases of Railway property offences have been conferred under the

Railway property (Unlawful possession) Act 1966.

6) Crime Scenario - The pattern & Geographical spread:

A brief insight into the Railway crime and its magnitude can be

understood from the fact that during the year 2003, 10,357 cases of

baggage thefts were registered besides 382 cases of Robbery, 181

cases of dacoity & 246 cases of murder reported from trains and Railway

premises, all over the country. The corresponding figures for the year

2002 were 1056 cases of baggage theft 394 cases of robbery, 126 cases

of dacoity & 238 cases of murder.

For purposes of quick appreciation of its impact, the details of crime

is reproduced below in a tabular column.

Major crime affecting Railway passengers

Crime Head 2005 2006 2007

(Nov)

Murder 238 246 199

Dacoity 125 181 109

Robbery 294 382 297

Baggage theft 10,562 10,357 8,970

Other IPC

offences

9,874 9,259 4,278

It will be evident from this that baggage theft alone accounted for

more than 50% of crime on IR, while Robbery accounted for 2%, Dacoity

and murder 1 % each. The other IPC offences including miscellaneous

crime such as riot, criminal intimidation, assault, hurt, etc constituted 45%

of the crime.

Of the most crime prone states are Maharashtra (3219), UP (3055),

Bihar (2512), MP (2311) W.Bengal (1125) and Gujarat (1080) in that

order. (Figures in brackets indicates the total No of cases reported for

the year 2003). Robberies & dacoities in trains have drawn strong

criticism among the media and Public. The most affected states for

robbery have been Gujarat (68), Bihar (63), Maharashtra (53), Madhya

Pradesh (44), UP (31), W.Bengal (29), Jharkand (21) and Assam (13)

cases. Most dacoity cases have been reported from Bihar (74), Jharkand

(40) Assam (13), West Bengal (10), UP & Gujarat (9 each) and

Maharashtra (4). The Crime pattern will reveal that while the Eastern and

North- Eastern parts of the country are indeed prone for heinous crimes

like Robbery and Dacoity, the biggest area that needs to be addressed is

that of baggage thefts, which has been on the increase and the most

affected states are Maharashtra (2713), UP (1723), Bihar (1250), Gujarat

(814), Delhi (643), Karnataka (500) and MP (482).

Drugging of the passenger and robbing him of his belongings is a

recent menace that has become a cause of serious concern. The modus

operandi of the criminal is to travel as a co-passenger with a valid

reserved ticket, select and appropriate time and to make away with his

valuables and baggage. The unconscious victim is detected by the

Police or RPF only at the destination point after hours later and after

several hundred kilometers by which time the miscreant would have

disappeared without trace. The media has been regularly reporting this

novel mode of crime and has christened such thieves as 'Biscuit Bandits'.

The most effected states are UP (91) cases, Gujarat (83), W.Bengal (61),

MP (50), Jharkhand (41), Bihar (37), Maharashtra (35), Karnataka (33),

AP (34), Delhi (23), during 2003-2004.

The purpose of quoting the above crime figures is not only to show

the crime pattern and the geographical spread, but also to bring home

the sense of insecurity among the traveling public.

7) Passenger- Expectations and Preventive Measures:

The modern Rail passenger is well aware of his rights and due

comforts. Apart from punctuality of the train he expects a peaceful,

trouble-free and comfortable journey besides being ensured of security

for himself and his baggage. In the event of an untoward situation, of the

passenger losing, his baggage the most frequently faced dilemma is: with

whom he should lodge the FIR. Whether with the GRP at the PO? or

with the district Police or approach the RPF? or to go to GRP at the

destination? The existing jurisdictional anomaly is such that more than

one agency is involved, and hence the layman is understandably

confused. Even for a small distance of about 300 km or even for a

journey of one hour, more than one GRP state unit is involved and the

inability of the victim to pin point exactly the time and place of theft

compounds the problem further. Apart from jurisdictional anomaly, the

reluctance of the traveling public to abandon their journey and the

resultant delay in reporting the incident often allows the criminal to go

scot-free and encourages further crime. There is also a nagging

suspicion among the rail users that of the public that the Railway crimes

receive a low priority with the police, since the Railway Police is a

separate police district for all such purposes.

On the whole it can be seen that a combined effect of various

factors has made the crime scenario on the IR a matter of serious

concern for the Passengers and the Railway Administration. The

dichotomy in the system of having two agencies for policing and security

has not at all helped to find an effective solution.

The silver lining, however, is that efforts are being made to improve

the plight of the traveling public. The Railways have identified core areas

that need to be concentrated upon for train operations. These include

escorting of important trains, crime control in suburban trains, drives

against illegal traveling in ladies compartments and Reserved coaches,

towel spreaders, touts, seizure of contraband goods, illicit liquor and

inflammable/dangerous goods. In all these areas, efforts are taken by

both RPF and GRP without strictly standing on legal parameters of their

functions. It is relevant to point out that the activities of various agencies

cannot be put in watertight compartment and some areas and duties are

bound to overlap. The rationale behind the same is that in an

organization which spends about 800 crores on security, the optimum

benefits should percolate down to the average Rail user.

8) Quest For a change of guard:

All is not well with the existing system of dual policing on the

Railways. That the system needs major reforms is undisputable going by

the fact that almost 20 committees including some high power

committees have gone in to the aspects of security and policing in the

Railways. Some of the noteworthy recommendations include (a) creation

of a centralized policing unit, (b) conferring more powers to RPF under

Cr.P.C. and (c) even merging the GRP with the District Police,

considering that the District Police is better equipped to deal with any

situation. The traveling public do not differentiate between the RPF and

the GRP or the police in the Railway premises. A man in Khaki is always

regarded as the savior in distress.

The recent years have seen a deteriorating trend in the Law and

Order situations in some states and the Railways have been a prime

target. Policing the huge mass of Rail passengers is a mammoth task.

The existing dual system is over 130 years old when the magnitude and

proportion of Crime was only a small fraction of what we face today. The

responsibility of the Railway administration to provide a crime free

journey has been repeatedly upheld by the courts and the consumer fora,

of late.

Perhaps, recognizing the need for a change, the Government of

India has made amendments to the Railways Act and RPF act in 2003,

which in the long run, could rank as landmark changes. Thus protection

of Railway passengers and passenger area is a new area of activity for

the RPF, which now has exclusive powers of arrest & prosecution under

twenty nine various sections of the Railway Act. Consequent to this, RPF

has taken additional duties including escorting of important night trains

and manning of major Railway stations from first July 2004. RPF has

also intensified drives under the Railways Act against Railway offenders.

However, more needs to be done. One proposal is that RPF should be

given concurrent jurisdiction along with Police for investigation of all

property offences in Railway Premises. A draft Railway offences bill was

earlier made out, conferring the RPF with powers under 38 various

sections of the IPC. This however is yet to be transformed into a valid

legislation.

9) A road map to future policing:

Today, policing over the world is undergoing a sea change. In

some of the countries, which have train operations of comparable scale

such as UK, Canada and the USA, the Railways have their own exclusive

and dedicated police with full powers to meet all eventualities. For the

system to function effectively, it is desirable that such a proposal should

be given serious thought by the concerned ministries. RPF being an All

India Force has the right structure and organizational comment to take up

this mantle. The Rail Passenger has a right, to expect that his complaint

will be promptly registered and effectively investigated. The proposal for

a unified policing on the trains by having a single agency is an option that

needs to be seriously examined. The proposal to merge GRP with

District Police would mean that while the RPF takes over crime

prevention duties on trains, the Police would be free to concentrate on

maintenance of Law and Order at Stations and midsections, so that a

viable policing system can emerge within the framework of the

constitution.

Why the Fore front leaders, leaving aside the political affiliations, and the top Brass and others keep aside the privileges they are enjoying now as Railway is providing to RPF, try; and get the great expectations of Hon'ble President of India's come true in near future.

Bureau Of Police Research And Development

Reviews for Bureau Of Police Research And Development(1)

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"Articles from V.Seshadri, ASC/RPF/RETD--Group A Service"

Sir, good morning ... BPRD is the right perspective/prospective to deal and make a way out????.While the (RPF) is under exclusive control and command of the Central Government, viz- the Ministry of Railways and non-else, the other (GRP) is run by different State Governments in their respective territories, that too District wise and also Police Circle jurisdiction wise. Dual policy system, in matters of registration of crime cases, investigation, etc.! What does it makes a difference ( to the passengers) even if the RPF is made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Home Affairs like that of the CISF? What does it makes a difference (to the passengers) even if the RPF and the GRP are merged and unified to make a single and unified Indian Railways Police Force and made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Railways? Just imagine and think retrospective, and prospective, with open mind and thoughts, for future of the Indian Railways; And of the RPF, the GRP, and the Passengers on the whole.;
In every matter of this nature YOU shall lead from FRONTLINE, as being the PIONEER IN BPRD IN INDIA, and not on/over the frontline without engulfing with some bindings and parameters to act, and initiative. Come out with open mind through FrontPage, ventilate inside stories of thoughts... Evolution: Let the BPRD/Government of India, even by making some type of amendments, etc, HONOUR the views and aspirations of the Former President of India and evaluate to make a single Police Force for the safety and security of the passengers and their belongings over the Indian Railways. Make out some action plan to abolish the dual power system for merging both the RPF and the GRP as one and a single uniformed police Force.
After all, it is not aimed at some person, or group(s) of vested interests; it is aimed for the citizen’s of India and for the passengers who are traveling throughout the country over the Indian Railways, which are having a well established system. WHEN THESE GREATE EXPECTATIONS OR THE IMAGINATIONS, CAN COME TRUE?

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Reviews for Bureau Of Police Research And Development (1)

Write a review

"Articles from V.Seshadri, ASC/RPF/RETD--Group A Service"

Sir, good morning ... BPRD is the right perspective/prospective to deal and make a way out?While the (RPF) is under exclusive control and command of the Central Government, viz- the Ministry of Railways and non-else, the other (GRP) is run by different State Governments in their respective territories, that too District wise and also Police Circle jurisdiction wise. Dual policy system, in matters of registration of crime cases, investigation, etc. ! What does it makes a difference ( to the passengers) even if the RPF is made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Home Affairs like that of the CISF? What does it makes a difference (to the passengers) even if the RPF and the GRP are merged and unified to make a single and unified Indian Railways Police Force and made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Railways? Just imagine and think retrospective, and prospective, with open mind and thoughts, for future of the Indian Railways; And of the RPF, the GRP, and the Passengers on the whole.;
In every matter of this nature YOU shall lead from FRONTLINE, as being the PIONEER IN BPRD IN INDIA, and not on/over the frontline without engulfing with some bindings and parameters to act, and initiative. Come out with open mind through FrontPage, ventilate inside stories of thoughts... Evolution: Let the BPRD/Government of India, even by making some type of amendments, etc, HONOUR the views and aspirations of the Former President of India and evaluate to make a single Police Force for the safety and security of the passengers and their belongings over the Indian Railways. Make out some action plan to abolish the dual power system for merging both the RPF and the GRP as one and a single uniformed police Force.
After all, it is not aimed at some person, or group(s) of vested interests; it is aimed for the citizen’s of India and for the passengers who are traveling throughout the country over the Indian Railways, which is having a well established system. WHEN THESE GREATE EXPECTATIONS OR THE IMAGINATIONS, CAN COME TRUE?

Sir, good morning ... BPRD is the right perspective/prospective to deal and make a way out ?While the (RPF) is under exclusive control and command of the Central Government, viz- the Ministry of Railways and non-else, the other (GRP) is run by different State Governments in their respective territories, that too District wise and also Police Circle jurisdiction wise. Dual policy system, in matters of registration of crime cases, investigation, etc.! What does it makes a difference ( to the passengers) even if the RPF is made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Home Affairs like that of the CISF? What does it makes a difference (to the passengers) even if the RPF and the GRP are merged and unified to make a single and unified Indian Railways Police Force and made to work under the control and command of the Ministry of Railways? Just imagine and think retrospective, and prospective, with open mind and thoughts, for future of the Indian Railways; And of the RPF, the GRP, and the Passengers on the whole.;

In every matter of this nature YOU shall lead from FRONTLINE, as being the PIONEER IN BPRD IN INDIA, and not on/over the frontline without engulfing with some bindings and parameters to act, and initiative. Come out with open mind through FrontPage, ventilate inside stories of thoughts... Evolution : Let the BPRD/Government of India, even by making some type of amendments, etc, HONOUR the views and aspirations of the Former President of India and evaluate to make a single Police Force for the safety and security of the passengers and their belongings over the Indian Railways. Make out some action plan to abolish the dual power system for merging both the RPF and the GRP as one and a single uniformed police Force.

After all, it is not aimed at some person, or group(s) of vested interests; it is aimed for the citizen’s of India and for the passengers who are traveling throughout the country over the Indian Railways, which is having a well established system. WHEN THESE GREATE EXPECTATIONS OR THE IMAGINATIONS CAN COME TRUE?

Sir, apropos the news item published in the Hindu dated 13^th Jan, 2011, Hyderabad edition, about the Hyderabad City Police to regulate private security system, I am expressing my views as under:

In this connection, may take this opportunity once again to state that there exist already a Law --“The Private Security agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005”, on the matter and that the State Government has to take appropriate action to implement the same in stricto sense. In this Act, there are several laid down Rules and regulations about the recruitment, training, registration of the Firms/Companies dealing with the Private Security Systems.

In the present context of safety and security and keeping in view of infiltrations and the sort, it is very much essential to have a proper and strict Regulatory Body to control and have command on the ‘five times the police force’ strength in the State of Andhra Pradesh alone..

An Article written on the subject matter is also appended hereunder for your perusal with a request to get it published in our esteemed papers. This is the original Article written by me and not yet published any where so far.

Industrial security system and Services

Article: by: V. Seshadri, Asst.Commandant/Asst. Security Commissioner/RPF/

(Railway Protection Force)/ retired.

B.Sc.; LL.M.; PG Dip. In Criminal Laws. PGDip. In IRPM.

In any industry or organization, security system and intelligence deployment is found be most neglected system and poorly employed with meager perks and fully depending on one or the other unorganized security Forces or Agencies who have not even registered their names in accordance with “The Private Security agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005”, but they form as a part of big establishments with sophisticated security systems and well established and trained personnel. They may be from ex-army, police, CPOs, and the like but, it may and should have been a concern of a well organized organization to check up their registration and dealings as per the guide lines laid in the above Act.

The present system of working in any industry by any professional or for that reason any personnel is to get more and more perks and they are in fact found to be least bothered or interested to find out the ways and means to apply their awareness and mind to bring growth to the organization by which they are employed.

What ever their level of the management cadre, they first think of their purse and take home salary and other ways and means to come closer to the boss and as to how to get higher and higher positions or promotions.

For this type, they tend to express their work capabilities and workmanship only to that extent and till such time they get higher perks and upgraded with higher position. Their aim is found to be to work with such and such organization/s for such period say around 4-5 years and get themselves recognized or organize their know how on their professional matters of interest and look for the right time to jump over to any other organization for extra perks and elevation which may include, a chance to serve in other countries and so on.

At this point of juncture itself the organizations security and inside story is becoming as the target and how much of the matters are discussed out side the office hours as gossip is not taken care of by the management or its managers. They feel that it is a matter of routine in nature. That is all. There the actual story of intelligence matters are leaked out or the security aspect, management weakness, exposure are coining out. May the information talked about is of any importance or not, the same is openly discussed, including that of the boss/heads of the departments, other weakness, their family history, and the people’s movements. The security personnel and their subordinate’s words who have been employed are not taken into confidence by the management, or the board of directors, as their presence and suggestions or the advice on security aspects, which include the intelligence gathered on the industry’s physical and or on personnel working patterns and so on… But they are asked not to open up their minds unless they ask to do so, and even if they ventilate their news about some personnel, it was just ignored and at times, the person was asked to be careful as he is being watched. There may be some differential equations between the working system and security deployment between the Central/State Governmental Organizations and the private/or the public sector organizations. But in most of the systems, the internal, physical security of men and materials and that of the organization’s safety and security is a matter of concern. In these days of competitive intelligence hangovers and economic or industrial bypassing and awaiting a chance for take-over, the security systems and services are found to be playing a vital role under ground even with out the knowledge of the management and they are not leak proof.

In most of the private security deployment of contractor's/Agents personnel,

whether they be from security guard rank to that of higher ranks, it found that there shall be no

attendance register,no muster roll,not shift duty register, no handing over or taking over of

security staff register,no pay roll register, no leave register, etc. They found to be having full

guide lines from the top not to maintain any such register including the gate pass register,

materials incoming /out going register, or personal/visitors or vehicle registers at the entrance

gates. This may for just adjustments as and when they like and to cover their misdeeds and

mishapping.There shall be no end to site this type of white collar criminal activities which include

EPF,ESI and other matters connected to the security staff; duplicability of the names, one

person working at different places on different names with manageable understanding and cover

ups. His name shall stand on records and payments shall be arranged by all the companies/Firms

without any verification. There shall be finger prints record, and lot of such relevant factors.

The overt and the covert acts of the insiders and also the outsiders-visiting the organizations on one or the pretext or for the expansion, business deals, research scholars, celebrities, and the like are the soft persons through whom the matters are leaked out. This type of intelligence system working is not for material gain, but aimed to find out the ways and means to get the loop holes to be used in future course or when time permits and bounce upon for its merger, closure, etc. Even at these junctures, the security services, and the personnel utilized are of no use to the organization, as they are useful for nothing and not meant or trained for such activities. This is at times used as competitive intelligence network through individuals or group of highly placed persons, against whom the lower or middle management security personnel have no approach to them. That is the weakness of the organization, which had no fore thought on such developments. Gathering information/intelligence is an Art- a systemized way of approach of the weak minded or the persons on some need-or who are can be pinned down for the three Ws-wealth, wine and women or of such natured Art cannot be equated with any matter of procedural practices, which can be just trained and adopted by specialized personnel alone, who are being utilized by the other organizations, even who/they might of in friendly nature, including partners? No organization, to my knowledge and belief is found to have specially employed any such security system personnel who are being utilized for collection of intelligence, assimilation or dissemination on matters of security system of its organizational set up so far. In intelligence gathering on what ever subject or matter, there can be no legal or illegal means which are designed to be adopted or not to be adopted. The matters depend on he organizational set up of standards, its status, economic, and on competitiveness over national or international systems. All the matters depend upon the situation and the person on whom they are going to be taped/tapped, it is not to be misunderstood as trapped, before tapping, they find out all types of information, weakness, rigidity, and the religious background, disgruntled or dissatisfied personnel, susceptible to or not, but they sanitize the matters and adopt suitable forms to suit to the situation of adoptability, etc.

Insiders or to that matter, the family members, are the most targeted persons by the opponents, who are outwardly and in open terms seems to be the best coordinators, or the partners in all matters. Industrial or education tours, visits by important persons accompanied by un known persons at specific intervals is the most watch dog situation for an industry who have not adopted to utilize the sophisticated intelligence trained security personnel. Physical security of men, material, and that of the industry is very much important, but it is also very much essential to get good intelligence officers, whose integrity shall be tested by reputation and not by the medals, ranks, status, position, and other rewards.

Espionage, sabotage, other types of criminal activities shall not be clubbed with the security and intelligence working as they are to be dealt separately and independently like counter intelligence, surveillance, counter espionage, cyber crimes, white collar crimes, etc shall have to be dealt separately even though they may overlap or inter related in terms and working aspect.

Economic imbalance, auditors reports, taxes, customs, tenders, in fights for power and authority, trade union activities, for and/or against the management, logistics--adjustments, or theft of materials, machinery failures, present trends of contract/outsourcing systems-- of personnel, drivers, cabs, are some of the fields where they might be interested and a tool for targeting its down fall, or surrender to others, etc.

In this aspect one has no say on the white collar criminals of the organization’s-insiders who adopt, or opt for wrongful gain, and having become easy to contributory or compromiser’s formulae with others and such person’s identity and exposure may become a problematic issue which may ultimately reflect on its working aspect itself. This may lead to lot of panic in the heads of the departments, chair-person and the CMD/or MDs and weeding out such personnel is a gigantic task with out getting the matter leaked out.

Rail passenger’s security is Railway’ priority: My Vision:

“I, V. Seshadri, Asst. Security Commissioner, RPF, (Retired)/ Group ’A’ Cadre Post, do hereby undertake that the above Article which I am sending to you is original Article made by me. The Article has not been published and not submitted for publication else where." Thanking YOU, Yours Sincerely, V.Seshadri, House No: 24-147/4/2, East Anandbagh, MALKAJGIRI, HYDERABAD-500047, ANDHRA PRADESH STATE.

E-mail:1946krishnaseshadri@gmail.com

The RPF members have rededicated themselves to serve the Nation on the occasion of 26th RPF Raising Day celebrations held on 20-9-2010.

I, as the Member of Force/Superior Officer, retired from service in 2006, too join hands with them and Salute to the RPF Flag and the Superior Officers of the Force in high highlighting their individual Zonal wise performance for the year 2009-2010.

It is so far so good. This practice I am seeing since my inception in to the Force almost from 1970 onwards. But nothing has been changed in the handling of the Law and Order and registration of crime cases detected which fall under the provision of the Indian Penal Code or other allied Laws. All such cases-- for example over South Central Railway, Secunderabad, the RPF have detected 17 incidents of passenger related crime cases, such as, snatching, luggage lifting etc. and they were successful in arresting 30 criminals. Whether all these reflect in their Crime Registers under the head IPC ( Indian Penal Code) provisions/sections;

The RPF have done the exemplary job in the safety and security of the Rail passengers within in their bounds, but can they put on record as to how many were arrested by them falling under the penal provisions of the IPC, except showing in their data/records; they have no such legal rights to do so, as per Law. They have to hand over such cases to the GRP (Government Railway Police) of the State Governments falling in their jurisdiction for case registration and further investigation. That is all,their entire job is completed. The GRP shall do further investigation, filing of the charge sheet, etc.

This apathy is continuing since decades and nothing could be made out by the Government to make special provisions to make the RPF as one of the POLICE FORCE IN INDIA, and/or to empower the RPF to deal such cases directly under the provisions of the IPC. Nothing has been moved so far, even to the expectations of the former Honourable President of India, who had in fact ventilated the differences logging on between the GRP and RPF and directed the Government to sort out some amicable way in merging them or making the RPF with such legal powers to deal such cases, etc.

INTERNAL SECURITY AND SAFETY-- ITS POLICING IS FOUND TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE CHALLENGING TASK AND BECOMING COMPLICATED WITH PHASED ADVANCEMENT, NOT ONLY IN THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUT ALSO IN THE INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM ITSELF: TO CHECK THEM- WHAT TO DO & HOW TO TACKLE THEM:

The vision and the great expectations of the former Honourable President of India WAS that the Railway Protection Force should aim for realization of such a level of safety by the year 2010. (source: Indian Railways”- Monthly Magazine--July-2006, and also July, 2007).But nothing has happened even on date, except propelling our achievements and the sort, as it seems the bureaucratic, the bosses does not want that the RPF shall be empowered with such powers and be in the hands and control of the Indian Railways.

Honourable President of India Dr. A. P.J. Abdul Kalam has presented the Presidential Colours to the Railway Protection Force on 22^nd May, 2006 with certain observations and suggestions to the RPF / the Government of India, the Ministry of Railways, the Railway Board, New Delhi, to make rail journey safer and secure to the 12 million people including the tourists who are making use of the rail services every day.

The Hon’ble President reiterated:

(1) the need to remove the division of responsibility between the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF);

(2) for empowering the RPF with legal powers to tackle all cognizable offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Special Acts so that there is a single point of responsibility for tackling crimes against railway passengers.

Former Honourable President of India Dr. A. P.J. Abdul Kalam has presented the Presidential Colours to the Railway Protection Force on 22^nd May, 2006 with certain observations and suggestions to the RPF / the Government of India, the Ministry of Railways, the Railway Board, New Delhi, to make rail journey safer and secure to the 12 million people including the tourists who are making use of the rail services every day.

The friction and imbalance between the RPF and the GRP working stood as it was earlier even after amendments to certain Acts without touching the base element of the legal powers to RPF on the offences falling under the IPC or allied Acts. It is more and more very clear without any ambiguity that as per the statement of objects and reasons of the RPF Act, the legislation has designed to bring about a radical change in the functioning of the department, by reorganizing it, to provide in times of need, suitable assistance to the Railway Police who are charged mainly with the responsibility for overall maintenance of law and order in railway premises.

Ironically it can be seen that ’ The Police ( Incitement to Disaffection) Act, 1922 ‘ has been made applicable to the RPF by virtue of its inclusion in the RPF Act making it to the subject of the Police Force only to the extent of said Act and not otherwise.

By ‘The Police Act, 1949 ‘, the Central Government has made a provision to constituted a police force for general police-district embracing two or more Union Territories and for the establishment of a Police Force therefore, in this case it can be for the Indian Railways, if the feel to do so, that much easy for them, only the intention and thought must be true, with positive mindedness for the safety and security of the Railways in India. The same procedure can be adopted to enforce a single Police Force on the Indian Railways,

With out making any amendments to Constitution, the above procedure can take effect, as is done, in my opinion, in the case of " The Andhra Pradesh Municipal Tram ways (Construction, Operation and Maintenance) Act, 2008-ACT No: 38 of 2008 of the Government of A.P. I am expressing this feelings, because while the draft Bill for this Act were under consideration of the Central Government for some time, may be that the ' Railways' and that the Metro Rail can also be treated as a Tramway, which is the subject matter of the Central Government, might have considered better to be dealt by the A P State, the Draft Bill found to have sent and the same has been passed as ACT No.38 of 2008 by Andhra Pradesh Government.

The Central Government can also make a separate Act like ‘ The Police Act, 1949 ‘, thereby including the RPF befitting as a Police Force to deal cases exclusively on Railways.

The Central Government can also constitute a separate or Special Railway Districts embracing parts of two or more States and Union Territories, and extend it to every such part of the said District, the powers and jurisdiction of a Police Force as belonging to a State to be specified in the Notification. By this, the RPF can also be vested with the powers and functions of the Police Force on Railway’s System to deal all the cases pertaining to the Rail passengers over Indian Railways.

50% of the expenditure over the Government Railway Police (GRP) on the Indian Railways System is borne by the Ministry of Railways; this in addition to accommodation, for GRP offices, and the Parade Ground; some quota of earmarked railway quarters as per the GRP requirements; the supply of electricity and water follows; the Bills which might have been raised for realization from the State Governments are being dealt by the Ministry of Railways for realization.

YOU are all the persons who can best visualize every thing and act better than the ordinary citizens; like me, YOU are the Best Judges of the Future, Frontline RUNNERS OF THE COUNTRY.

WHEN THESE GREATE EXPECTATIONS OR THE IMAGINATIONS CAN COME TRUE? Honourable former President of India’s vision on the above matter was expressed in the year 2006 and expected the year 2010 as the implementation year by bringing the RPF at par with of a Police Force, and for making a single and unitary Police System over the Indian Railways, and the same is just passing through.....with out any movement, and running as it was earlier………..