STUDENTS TORCHED TRAINS; WHY TRAINS?

AFTER ALL WHOES PROPERTY IS THIS?

Running trains through Bihar is becoming dangerous day by day. Four compartments of two more trains were torched by the so called students at Bihta railway station, some 35 km away from state capital Patna on 18^th August. Sramjeevi express and Samghmitra Express trains become targets of the student’s and anti-social element’s wrath. Reports reaching out to the police headquarters at Patna suggest that some students entered into AC compartments of the ill fated trains at Arrah station without a proper ticket. They were reportedly carrying monthly season passes (MSP) which are meant for general bogeys of the trains and not for reserved or A/C compartments. When they were asked to get down from the AC compartments, they infuriated and a scuffle took place between them and RPF and GRP. Some police men beaten up the students leaving one of them injured.

Since they were in less numbers, they could do nothing but they informed some fellow men at Bihta and when the train arrived at Bihta station, large number of students mixed with anti-social elements gheraoed the train and started searching the constable responsible for the incident. In the meantime the crowd gathered in huge number and after asking the occupying passengers to leave the compartments, they set four A/C compartments ablaze leaving at least four bogeys completely burnt. Railway officials however said that no RPF was involved in the ticket search operation and scuffle took place with GRP only. An estimated 3.20 Crore worth property has been damaged.

On the other hand, some eye witnesses said on condition of anonymity that GRP were indulged in extortion and when they were asked to stop this, the policemen got infuriated and beaten up the student leaving him seriously injured.

In a separate incident, an unruly mob torched railway station of Lakshisarai in Munger division. They were angry over the death of a railway employee allegedly murdered by some criminals. In recent times, railway stations and trains have become soft targets of agitations and anti-social elements have made railway property an easy prey. Even on trivial issues unconnected with railways, criminals and anti-social elements resort to arson and looting of railway properties. The translucent division of rights and duties between RPF and GRP is said to be the main reason for police not to take firm actions. RPF is a railway’s own police force and is expected to perform only under RPF Act, whereas; GRP is state government police. Law and order being the state subject as per Article 246 of Indian Constitution, such incidents are to be prevented and prosecuted by GRP, but like previous incidents this time also the blame game has started. The new DGP has taken serious note of it and has asked for video footage on the basis of which, he said criminals would be indentified and speedy trial would be launched against them.