5th November 2015

- The Hindu

Jail for carrying fireworks on trains: RPF

Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Madurai Division has stepped up vigil against passengers carrying crackers on trains ahead of Deepavali festival.

Divisional Security Commissioner P. Shankaran Kutty, who led an awareness campaign against carrying inflammable articles on trains at Madurai junction, warned the passengers that violators could be jailed for up to three years and imposed a fine of Rs. 1,000 under Section 164 of the Railway Act, 1989.

Mr. Shankaran Kutty said that special teams had been formed to keep a tab on passengers trying to smuggle in crackers from Sivakasi, the hub of fireworks manufacturing, at Virudhunagar, Sattur and Sivakasi.

Sniffer dogs

Sniffer dogs and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squads had already been deployed at these stations to check baggage of passengers. Besides, RPF personnel in civvies had also been posted to maintain vigil.

Mr. Shankaran Kutty said that crackers that were highly inflammable could lead to disasters on moving trains. “Transportation of fireworks is allowed only in private vehicles and not in public carriers like trains and buses,” he said.