RPF Thiruvananthapuram Division Records Massive Crackdown on Railway Offences
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in the Thiruvananthapuram division has undertaken an extensive enforcement drive, resulting in the arrest of more than 19,000 individuals for various offences at railway stations and onboard trains during the period from April to December 2025. Divisional Railway Manager Divyakant Chandrakar revealed these significant figures, highlighting the force's commitment to maintaining safety and security across railway premises.
Comprehensive Action Against Multiple Offence Categories
This substantial crackdown represents a 12.93% increase in arrests compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. The operations were strategically designed to eliminate undesirable elements from railway stations and ensure passenger safety. Offenders faced prosecution under various sections of the Railways Act, with authorities collecting fines exceeding Rs 24 lakh.
Key focus areas included:
- Touting and Unauthorised Vending: Authorities specifically targeted illegal ticket business activities, arresting 19 offenders engaged in touting and seizing live tickets valued at over Rs 2 lakh. Simultaneously, 1,834 unauthorised vendors or hawkers were apprehended and prosecuted, resulting in fine collections surpassing Rs 4 lakhs—a 1.32% increase from 2024.
- Passenger Safety Offences: RPF Thiruvananthapuram demonstrated particular vigilance regarding crimes against passengers, arresting 118 individuals for offences including theft of belongings, snatching, robbery, and crimes against women. This marked a 9.26% rise in arrests compared to the previous year.
- Drug Trafficking Interdiction: In a significant blow to narcotics transportation networks, RPF seized 1,164.857 kilograms of ganja and synthetic drugs with an estimated value exceeding Rs 22 lakh during 2025. This operation led to the arrest of 92 offenders, who were subsequently handed over to relevant state and central agencies for further legal action.
Cleanliness Initiatives and Passenger Assistance Programs
Aligning with the national Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, railway authorities booked 12,669 offenders under provisions of the Indian Railways penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at railway premises. This enforcement action against littering and related offences generated fines totaling more than Rs 26 lakh.
Beyond enforcement, RPF Thiruvananthapuram division launched Operation Amanat, an innovative initiative designed to assist passengers in recovering lost belongings. Through this program, authorities successfully retrieved left-behind passenger property worth an impressive Rs 37,091,604 and returned these items to their rightful owners. This achievement represented a 12.53% improvement in retrieval rates compared to the previous year.
The comprehensive approach combining strict enforcement against criminal activities with proactive passenger assistance initiatives demonstrates RPF Thiruvananthapuram's multifaceted strategy for enhancing railway security and passenger experience throughout the division.
