RPF Nabs Suspects, Recovers Stolen Phones

Rapid Summary

• The Railway Protection Force (RPF), Thiruvananthapuram Division, cracked two robbery cases from running trains in August under Operation Yatri Suraksha.
• Incident 1 (August 10):

– Passenger on Train No. 16629 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Malabar Express attacked and robbed near Aluva station while the train moved at slow speed.
– A gang of six assaulted the victim,stealing his mobile phone,earphones,and ₹700 cash.
– Coordinated efforts by RPF, GRP, Crime Prevention Squad, Intelligence Branch led too arrest of all six gang members within 18 hours; stolen items recovered.

• Incident 2 (August 16):

– Similar crime occurred on Train No. 17230 Secunderabad-Thiruvananthapuram Sabari Express when a passenger’s mobile phone was snatched near Ernakulam track area.
– RPF responded quickly; three suspects apprehended by early next morning at Pullepady rail overbridge area; stolen goods recovered.

• Divisional Security Commissioner Muhammed Haneef advised passengers to avoid footboard travel and displaying valuables near doors/windows.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The swift response by the Railway Protection Force in both incidents underscores their effectiveness under Operation Yatri Suraksha in tackling crimes aboard trains-a recurring concern for railway safety in India. The coordinated effort among agencies highlights an improving model for addressing criminal activities along railway routes promptly and efficiently.

However, these incidents also spotlight vulnerabilities within passenger habits-particularly footboard travel and visible use of valuables-that miscreants exploit regularly along tracks where security is harder to enforce proactively.

Moving forward, educating passengers alongside scaling preventive measures such as increased surveillance near vulnerable stretches could reduce risks significantly without overburdening resources or complicating operations further for authorities already stretched across multiple mandates related to railways security nationwide.

Read more: Published August 18,2025