RAILWAY SAMACHAR

Rly Identify 13 Trains Worst

Affected By 'Drug Menace'

New Delhi : Railways have admitted that cases of drugging and looting are rampant in the Mumbai-Varanasi and Delhi-Guwahati sections and identified 13 trains as the worst affected ones.

"It is an organised crime. We identified 13 trains in which such incidents are frequently reported and have taken certain measures to prevent the menace," a senior Railway official said.

"The unscrupulous elements offer passengers drug-laced biscuits, cold drinks, tea or coffee and make them unconscious before looting their belongings," the official said.

The Mahanagri Express, Tapaswani Express and Kalka Mail are among the 13 worst-affected trains identified by the Railways for frequent drugging incidents, he said.

Other "vulnerable" trains include Mumbai-Ferozpur Punjab Mail, Delhi-Guwahati North Express, Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahmaputra Mail, Delhi-Guwahati Awadh Express and Mahananda Express, the official said.

The Mahanagri Express and Kamayani Express running between Mumbai-Varanasi sector alone reported 38 such cases last year.

Twenty-four drugging cases were reported from Mumbai- Varanasi Mahanagri Express followed by Puri-Hatia Tapaswani Express (18), Howrah-Kalka Mail (17), Mumbai-Varanasi Kamayani Express (14), Delhi-Jalpaiguri Mahananda Express (12), Delhi- Guwahati Awadh Assam Express (11) and Ferozpur-Mumbai Punjab Mail (9) in 2009.

While eight drugging cases each were reported from New Jalpaiguri-Danapur Capital Express and Delhi-Katihar Amrapali Express, Delhi-Guwahati North East Express witnessed 10 cases, Howrah-Jodhpur Express, Delhi-Dibrugarh Brahma Putra Mail, and Nagpur-Tatanagar passenger trains witnessed nine, five and four cases respectively last year.

A total of 957 drugging incidents were reported last year while 200 such cases were registered and 41 persons arrested during January-April this year, the official said.

"We have identified certain stations as prone to such crimes. Constant vigil, awareness campaign and increased patrolling are some of the steps undertaken to prevent the menace," he said.