Eastern Railway on extra vigil, four girls rescued

Kolkata: Eastern Railway authorities have rescued four girls from different stations after having mounted extra vigil to prevent crime against women since the gang-rape of a minor girl allegedly by security personnel in a military compartment of Amritsar Express.

"We have started an extra vigil since the alleged gang-rape of the girl," Eastern Railway CPRO Ravi Mahapatra said here.

"We are questioning girls found at the stations without escort or on spotting any suspicious movement," he said.

More personnel in civil dress have been deployed to keep an eye on the passengers or people at the stations to prevent any such incident, Mahapatra said, adding security personnel have been deployed at Howrah, Sealdah, Malda, Asansol, Burdwan and other big stations under Eastern Railway.

A 20-year old girl who ran away from home was rescued at Barddhaman station from Poorva Express on January one.

In another incident, two minor girls aged about 14 and 17 years were rescued by Railway Protection Force from Sealdah station in the late hours of January 4.

"The RPF had informed Child Helpline and Government Railway Police and their respective parents. Subsequently, they were handed over to their parents after verification of documents," Mahapatra said.

Another 14-year-old girl, who had gone missing while travelling by a Dhanbad-bound train from Deoghar on January 4, was spotted by RPF personnel, ER officials said.

An RPF train escort party in Shaktipunj Express spotted the girl in a sleeper coach and was handed over to her parents after verification of documents.

Escorting of additional 68 Mail/Express trains has been introduced from January one as part of enhanced security measures, officials said.

A 14-year old girl, who had run away from home, was allegedly gang-raped in a military compartment of Amritsar Express on December 29 last.

Two BSF jawans have been arrested, apart from an army driver in connection with the case.