RPF men to hone investigative skills

V Ayyappan TNN

Dec 12, 2008

Chennai: After identifying railway stations that are prone to terror strikes, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has started training its officers to tackle cyber crime. Though the force is yet to get complete powers to investigate cases on par with state police, it is not leaving any stone unturned to hone the investigative skills of its officers, especially since terrorists have turned tech-savvy. RPF personnel have started attending training programmes on advanced investigative techniques organised at the Central Detective Training School in Hyderabad every year. Sources said that five RPF officers from across the country attended a training programme on cyber crime investigation along with 24 other officials belonging to the police of various states and defence forces recently. Though Southern Railway sent only one RPF officer to attend the training, this is the first time so many railway officers have participated in cyber crime investigation training. “The idea is to prepare the force to investigate crimes committed using electronic means like internet, mobile phones, credit or debit cards transactions and others,” a senior railway official said. Officials believe that such training programmes were crucial even though RPF might not be having investigating powers in cases that fall under the ambit of the Criminal Procedure Code. “Miscreants no longer depend on telephones for bomb hoaxes. They now send out email threats. So we have to equip RPF officers to trace such emails. If the railways is targeted, we would like to carry out our investigation rather than depend on the state police to share information about the investigation,” the offical added. Sources said that even though large-scale training of RPF personnel was not possible, but the officers who undergo training could always share the expertise. “We send our personnel for such training as and when slots are allotted in training schools. Such training will be useful for the officers in the future though there is no immediate move to hand over more powers to the RPF. The officials should also be aware of the latest trends in investigation. This will also help them when they go on deputation to other forces. More officers will be sent for similar training.” Southern Railway chief security commissioner GMP Reddy said. For decades, the RPF was just an armed unit that confined itself to protecting railway property — rolling stock, stations, equipment, installations and offices. But it started to show interest in training programmes involving investigation of crimes against passengers after more investigative powers were handed over to the force in 2004. Now they can file FIRs and investigate cases that come under the Railway Act, such as trespassing on railway property, smoking on trains and railway stations and crimes against women.