Attacks on Women: DGP writes to Railways GM

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DGP Jacob Punnoose has sent a letter to Railways General Manager (South) on Tuesday expressing deep concern over the rising attacks against woman passengers in trains. Pointing out that the recent incidents  had created a sense of great insecurity among women train passengers, the DGP urged the Railways to urgently grant travelling passes to 60 policemen of the state police so that they could be deployed in trains from 4 pm to midnight.The DGP also asked to give more attention to the passenger trains since women passengers in these trains were found to be more prone to harassment. At present, the passes granted to 56 women cops could be used for some particular trains only. This facility should be modified to enable them to be used in all trains.The DGP’s letter comes in the backdrop of rising incidents of harassment against women including the one which was reported on Tuesday, wherein a single woman who was on a journey in the Rajadhani Express met with a harrowing experience from the TTE. The police had been asking for issuing passes for 218 police personnel to beef up security in addition to the limited RPF personnel, after the brutal murder of  Soumya at Shornur.Chief Minster Oommen Chandy had also insisted on this demand. However, the Railways had not acceded to the request saying that passes can be issued in the name of police personnel only.The government had demanded that the passes be issued in the name of trains so that any cop can be deputed for duty.