Palakkad (Ker): Taking a serious note on the
incidents of harassment faced by women passengers in trains,
women RPF personnel would be deployed in trains for their
safety, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi said on Tuesday.
"We will be deploying women RPF personnel on trains. We
are not going to accept any kind of hooliganism", Trivedi said
after laying foundation stone for a Rs 550 crore Rail Coach
Factory at Kanjikode near here.
Taking the cue from Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on
the issue, Trivedi said co-operation of the state police
would also be sought to provide safe journey for passengers.
Last year, a 23-year-old woman died after she was pushed
down from a passenger train and raped by vagabond near
Thrissur.
The incident had sparked a hue and cry and a fast track
court a few months back awarded death sentence to the accused.
Trivedi's assurance assumes significance as some more
incidents of women passengers facing difficulties in trains
have been reported in the state.
A committee appointed by Railways had submitted several
recommendations to improve safety of the passengers, he said,
adding, Railway would not tolerate any type of 'vulgarism' in
trains.
Trivedi said unless modernisation of railway infrastructure
was not carried out, it would be difficult to fulfill the
demands from various quarters for more trains. The ministry
was waiting for the report of a committee headed by Sam
Pitroda on modernisation, he said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 22:35