MHA instructs states on ensuring a proactive registration of FIRs on railway thefts

New Delhi, August 3: Increasing concern over railway commuters often falling prey to railway thieves, the Home Ministry has asked all the states to ensure that an FIR has been registered against the thieves and investigation is carried on such cases.

In a communication to chief secretaries of states and administrators of union territories, the Home Ministry said offences against railway passengers like theft, robbery is registered and investigated by the Government Railway Police (GRP) of states responsible for prevention, detection and investigation of such crimes.

It is necessary that complaints made by railway passengers for criminal offenses are duly registered under the relevant sections of Indian Penal Code and investigated by the GRP in order to recover property and punish culprits.

“Proactive registration of cases, the filing of FIRs in such criminal offences and their proper investigation would act as a deterrent for criminals indulging in crime against railway passengers,” the home ministry said. “The states and UT administrations are requested to issue necessary instructions to the GRP of their state, which will go a long way in ensuring the security of passengers on Indian Railways,” it said.

It will increase chances of recovery of stolen property, improve the response mechanism thereby raising the satisfaction level of railway passengers. It would also help the railway's administration to appreciate actual crime position and formulate appropriate action plan and policies.