With the aim of enhancing railway security and preventing criminal activities, including stone-pelting, theft along railway tracks, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has begun drone surveillance to monitor vulnerable areas. A drone has been allotted jointly to Karnal and Panipat and is being deployed in Karnal for one to two days every week.
Notably, around 20 cases of stone-pelting were registered in the past one year. Of them, eight cases have been solved with the arrest of 10 suspects.
As per the RPF officials, the drone will be used to keep a close watch on a stretch comprising five bridges. The locations under scanner include the Kachwa railway overbridge, the Kaithal road railway overbridge and the Ghoghripur railway overbridge, along with the foot overbridge at the city railway station and an underbridge. “The drone can capture visuals from a height of up to 800 m and covers nearly 3.5 km on either side of the railway track,” RPF Karnal incharge Surinder Kumar said.
Officials believe that nearly 95 per cent of crimes related to theft, illegal railway crossings and stone-pelting incidents occur in these vulnerable areas. The drone will also cover colonies situated along the railway tracks and help identify troublemakers.
Highlighting the menace of stone-pelting, Kumar said, “We have successfully detected eight cases and arrested nearly 10 suspects, including nine minors. Most of the stone-pelting incidents can be traced back to the localities in close proximity to the tracks.”
“Our primary objective is to prevent incidents of stone-pelting, theft and illegal crossing of railway tracks. The drone helps us monitor sensitive areas effectively and acts as a deterrent against anti-social elements,” he added.
He appealed to the general public to avoid crossing railway tracks illegally and use designated foot overbridges instead. “People should never cross railway tracks. They must use the railway foot overbridge for their safety. Passengers should also refrain from taking selfies or making videos near moving trains, as such acts can prove fatal,” he said.
