In 2022, Railway Protection Force (RPF) registered 1,503 cases of stone pelting on moving trains and arrested 488 persons in relation to this.

Also, more than 100 persons carrying inflammable/crackers in trains were arrested.

To prevent stone pelting, several awareness drives are being made by RPF using different means to educate the residents near the railway track.

Under Operation ‘Sanraksha’, RPF took action against the criminals involved in pelting stones on the moving train, carrying inflammable or crackers in the train etc.

Stone pelting on moving trains has emerged as a serious issue with many reports of stone attacks on the newly launched ‘Vande Bharat trains.’

Recently this month some unidentified people pelted stones at a coach of the new Vande Bharat train at the railway yard in Visakhapatnam, breaking a glass window even before its inauguration.

And just four days after its launch, the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express came under stone pelting from unidentified miscreants in northern Bengal in this month.

Though no passenger is injured by these incidents, actions like stone melting causes loss of property for Railways, inconvenience, distrust and danger to passengers.

The Railway Protection Force

RPF was constituted under the RPF Act, 1957 by Government of India under the Ministry of Railways, for better protection and security of Railway property, to remove any obstruction in the movement of railway property and to do any other act conducive for better protection and security of railway property.

RPF is empowered to deal with cases of crime against railway property under the provisions of Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1966.

RPF has also been entrusted with the responsibility of security of railway passenger area and railway passengers since 2004.

The force acts against criminals in protecting railway passengers, passenger area and railway property, facilitate passenger travel and security, remains vigilant to prevent trafficking of women and children and take appropriate action to rehabilitate destitute children found in Railway areas.

The force has the distinction of the central force with largest share of women (9 per cent) in its ranks.