23 MMTS stations still do not have surveillance cameras
Picture used for representational purpose (Photo: DC/File)
Hyderabad: Security on MMTS trains has become a major concern with increasing instances of crime against women passengers and railway officials being reported. In two recent incidents, women ticket checkers were injured after they were manhandled by ticketless travellers.
Most women passengers are also harassed by stalkers and have to face eve-teasing on a daily basis. Though earlier, Government Railway Police used to conduct special drives to stop eve-teasing, no such drive has taken place this year. Despite the dire need for CCTV cameras at MMTS stations, 23 stations still do not have surveillance cameras.
Railway police cops admit that the severe staff shortage does not allow them to deploy enough security personnel on MMTS trains and at stations.
South Central Railway officials, however, said that more than 600 security personnel, on behalf of the Railway Protection Force, have been deployed on running trains, long distance and short distance, in the twin cities. “Three hundred RPF constables and 293 home guards are guarding the running trains in Hyderabad. Among them, several have also been deployed on MMTS trains,” said an official from the SCR.
He added that the three major railway stations in the city have adequate surveillance cameras covering them. Meanwhile, GRP officials say that since they face a severe shortage of staff, they cannot deploy their men on MMTS trains.
“We have our staff on long distance trains to check theft and other property offences, but not on MMTS trains,” said SP, Secunderabad Railway Division, Chandrasekhar Reddy.
However, women passengers say that the security provided is inadequate. Miscreants throng MMTS stations and compartments singing obscene songs and whistling. These men can only be rounded up through special drives on trains. In the initial months of 2013, 30 men were caught during a special drive, but GRP officials say they could not conduct such drives this year since they were busy with other duties.
SCR officials and railway police, however, say that they always make sure to that at least one or two constables or home guards are deployed in the ladies compartments on MMTS trains.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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