Suspected 'Hoons' graffitti artists deface trains.

MANGALURU: It is not clear whether it is copycat act or truly international graffiti vandals - Hoons - have arrived in Mangaluru. The vandals defaced three coaches of the Mangaluru- Madgaon DEMU (70105) which left the Mangaluru Central 2.45pm on Saturday.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has lodged a complaint with Mangaluru Railway Police. MK Gopinath, Public Relations Officer, Southern Railway, Palakkad, told TOI: Railway authorities are probing into the defacing of the DEMU with graffiti.We haven't got any breakthrough in the investigation.
The incident was first noticed mid-August when three coaches of accident relief vehicle stationed at Shoranur railway station in Trissur were found defaced with graffiti on August 16. On August 18, coaches stationed near railway yard in Trichy were defaced.
Gopinath says such defacement is a punishable act under Section 151 of The Railways Act, 1989. Section 151 details that damage to or destruction of certain railway properties shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
Also, Section 447 of The Indian Penal Code deals with criminal trespass for which imprisonment is of three months, with fine or which may extend to Rs 500 or with both.
Regarding patrolling at stations by RPF, Gopinath said they had two hour interval beat, which may have given the graffiti artists enough time to paint the coaches. The platform where the train was stationed had CCTV surveillance, but on the passenger side – not on the other side where the graffiti work was done.
Rail Hoons is an outfit known for displaying skills with paints, especially using spray cans, in public.