The railways, it seems, is learning the lesson the hard way. In the wake of the attack on girls inside a ladies compartment near Kottayam last week, the state police have been brought in to man two “crime-prone” passenger trains — the Ernakulam-Kottayam and the Ernakulam-Shoranur trains — from Sunday.

“With the Railway Protection Force facing a serious staff shortage, we’ve been directed to step in and deploy two additional beats in these trains from today. The beat will include two women personnel each and one male staff, depending on his availability," a senior government railway police (GRF) officer said.

A shabbily-dressed native of Maharashtra had forced his way into the ladies compartment of the Ernakulam-Kottayam passenger and allegedly attacked girl students at Kuruppunthura three days ago.

The incident gained prominence, especially in the context of the sensational Soumya case, in which a 23-year-old woman had been pushed out of the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train, raped and murdered by a handicapped history-sheeter, Govindachamy, on Feb. 1, 2011.

The railways had promised to deploy women cops in ladies coaches soon after the first incident. However, the women cops were deployed only for a few days on the Shornur passenger, and then they were withdrawn due to acute staff shortage.

The combined women staff of the railway protection force (RPF) and GRF in the Ernakulam region is nine. In actual deployment, only seven are available for the job. The trains in which cops are currently being deployed include the 11.30 am Ernakulam-Kottayam passenger, 6.05 pm Ernakulam-Kottayam passenger, and Shoranur passenger, as also Express trains like the Venad and Kurla.

“The present arrangement will be for a long-term basis. Both the trains run at peak hours and are usually crowded," he said.

Meanwhile, Sadananda Deshmukh is now lodged in Kottayam sub-jail and the charges registered against him include assault against woman.