New Delhi: The Railways on Wednesday said that over 1,500 cases of stone pelting in running trains were registered across the country in 2022 and over 400 people were arrested. Vande Bharat trains have also been damaged due to stone pelting.
“During the year, 1,503 cases of stone pelting on running trains were registered by RPF, following which 488 persons were arrested. Several awareness campaigns are being conducted by RPF through various mediums to educate the residents near railway tracks. More than 100 people are being taken in the drive. Inflammable/firecrackers in trains were also arrested,” the Railways said in a statement highlighting the achievements of RPF during the year.
While incidents of stone pelting on other trains are largely unreported, cases of stone pelting on the indigenously built Vande Bharat have received wide publicity. In fact, the first such train was pelted with stones at Tundla in Uttar Pradesh soon after it started. The train also faced stone-pelting near Sadar here, during which the window glass of a coach was damaged when it reached New Delhi railway station to begin its trial run from Delhi’s Sakurbasti to Allahabad.
Similarly, on December 20, 2018, during another trial run between Delhi and Agra, stones were pelted at the train in Mathura district as well. The Railways has also roped in the RPF to pacify the locals and the force has tried to distribute chocolates and gifts to slum-dwelling children to stop them from throwing stones at the semi-high-speed train.
Soon after its launch, the New Jalpaiguri-Howrah Vande Bharat Express fell victim to stone-pelters. Earlier this month, coaches of the Vande Bharat train were pelted with stones at Visakhapatnam railway station in Kanchanapalem area. Many glasses of the train were broken.