Join RPF, GRP in seamless policing: Prabhu

KOLKATA: Railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday called for empowering the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and integrating it with the Government Railway Police (GRP) for seamless policing at rail premises.
In town to "tell-all about the achievements of the Modi government”, Prabhu, who met the Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna and was all praises for her, initially evaded direct questions on the state’s law and order.
It was only when reporters at Press Club referred to encroachment on railway premises that the Union minister gave his piece of mind. “Allowing encroachment on any public property, including the railways, goes against public interest. Since law and order is a state subject, according to the Constitution, I appeal to all state governments to look into the problem of encroachment," he said.
The words are especially significant after the violence that broke out at the Baruipur railway station last Saturday when the RPF tried to evict hawkers who have "illegally" set shops at the station premises. A railway official was assaulted, allegedly by the mob of hawkers and bombs were hurled near the station. The 1,000-odd hawkers pledged loyalty to the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC), the ruling party’s labour wing. The state government accused RPF of going ahead with the eviction drive despite being advised not to.
“The railways has two arms to tackle law and order – the RPF and GRP, which is under the state government’s control, although railways bears half the cost,” the railway minister said, adding, "If there is any law and order issue, it has to go to the GRP. Let us create one seamless policing system for the RPF and GRP. We are working on this system wherein GRP and RPF can work in tandem.”
For some time now, Prabhu has been pointing out that the dual responsibility system involving the GRP and the RPF has created glitches for railways in providing seamless security to passengers.
There are cases of passengers unable to lodge complaints of theft or other crime incidents because of state boundary issues.
Prabhu has written letters to all chief ministers seeking their consent for amending the RPF Act, 1957 to empower the RPF and reducing the role of GRP.
After meeting Mamata at Nabanna, the minister said, "She (Mamata) was a very successful railway minister and her government has been extending all cooperation for implementation of the various projects.”
The chief minister, too, was at her cordial best, walking the Union railway minister to the door, and exchanging warm wishes. “We share a good relationship with each other,” said Mamata.