Status
1868. The Railway Police is a branch of the general police force and is subject to all Police Orders of general application. The Deputy Inspector General, Railways, has the same position with regard to the Railway Police as the Range Police Officers has to the District Police. The work of DIG (Railways) is suspervised by the Additional Director General (Law & Order)
General
1869. The primary duty of the Railway Police is the preservation of law and order and prevention and detection of crime in respect of the property and premises belonging to the Railway Department.
Officer to take Command of Police
1870. When the Railway Police and the District Police are on duty together on a railway, as defined in Section 3 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (Act IX of 1890), the senior Police Officer present, whether belonging to the Railway Police or to the District Police, will take command of all the police present. If, however, any doubt arises about the relative seniority of the Railway and the District Police Officer, then the Officer of the Railway Police having jurisdiction will take command.
Definition of Railway Limits and the Limits of a Station Yard
1871. ‘Railway limits’ may be defined as the area owned or legally occupied by a Railway Administration for purposes of the rail-road and the carriage of goods and passengers, and covers every place or building used for those purpose. A road over or under a railway is not usually railway property and, unless it is so, the police duties arising on it are generally to be discharged by the District Police.
1872. The expression ‘limits of a station yard’ means all traffic lines and premises included in railway limits within the distant signals.
1873. Should any doubt arise as to the precise limits of a railway or station yard, the question should be settled by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Railways, the Superintendent of the district concerned and, in Bangalore, the Commissioner, under the orders of the Director General of Police.
1874. As a general working rule, it may be taken, unless in the circumstances of any particular case there is something repugnant to it, that in the districts, the Railway Police exercise jurisdiction over all lands and buildings defined in Section 3 (4) (a) of the Indian Railways Act, 1890, unless the latter are so grouped or situated outside the station yard as the expression is generally understood, as to make it advisable, for better supervision, to combine them with the land in the District Police jurisdiction.
Organisation of the Railway Police Station
1875. The Railway Police is divided into two sections:-
(1) The Travelling and Detective Staff.
(2) The Platform Staff.
Organisation of Railway Police District
1876. (a) The Railway Police District, covering the limits referred to in Order 1871, is in charge of a Superintendent designated as Superintendent of Police, Railways, with the assistance of one or more Assistant or Deputy Superintendents as may be sanctioned from time to time. The district is divided into Inspector’s Circles which are subdivided into station jurisdictions. Railway outposts may also be constituted where necessary for the prevention and reporting of crime and will be in-charge of a Head Constable with a posse of Constables under him.
(b) Inspectors of Police: Generally the Inspectors of Police are incharge of Circles and a few Inspectors are kept incharge of the Railway Police Stations also as SHO. These Inspectors will do the duty enumerated for the SHOs.
Circle Inspectors
1877. (i) The duties of Circle Inspectors in the Railway Police are similar to those of Circle Inspectors in the District Police. In particular, it is their duty to know and frequently visit and maintain satisfactory relations with the Railway Officials, especially the District Officers. They must also take steps to secure co-operation with the District Police, local Magistrates and superior Police Officers connected with their circles and keeping in close touch with the District Police Inspectors. They should attend the meetings of District Police Inspectors held by the SPs and Range Inspectors General.
(ii) The Railway Circle Inspectors should also hold periodical border meetings at least once a quarter with border Railway Circle Inspectors both in the State and in the neighbouring States.
(iii) They will proceed forthwith to the scene of any serious crime or accident and take necessary steps.
Sub-Inspectors/Police Inspectors
1878. (i) Railway Police Station is in-charge of a Sub-Inspector/Police Inspector. The position and duties of the Sub-Inspector/Police Inspector correspond to those of Sub-Inspectors/Police Inspector SHOs of the District Police. He is responsible for the efficient working of the Railway Police Station and is the Investigating Officer.
(ii) He should acquire local knowledge not only of the employees of the railway, but also of the criminals residing in the vicinity of his Railway Police Station limits.
(iii) He should attend the railway platform at the time of the arrival or departure of mail trains or other important trains. This should be done not only at his headquarters but also at the places of his halt.
(iv) He should meet once a month Sub-Inspectors in-charge of local District Police Stations in whose jurisdiction railway line passes.
(v) He should, when required, also attend meetings held by the Circle Inspector/SDPO as the case may be of the District Police in whose jurisdiction the railway line passes.
Assistant Sub-Inspectors
1879. They are provided in important Railway Police Stations and will work under the orders of the Sub-Inspector/Police Inspector and supervise the work of Head Constables and Constables, as directed.
Platform Head Constable
1880. The Platform Head Constable has control of the platform staff. He should not leave the neighborhood of the Railway Station without orders. His duty should be arranged so as to enable him to have three nights off-duty in the week. In his absence, another Head Constable or a Constable should invariably be deputed to act. He is responsible for telegraphing any important occurrences to the Sub-Inspector/Police Inspector during his absence, unless this is done by the Station Writer. He should be present at the time of arrival and departure of all trains, as far as possible.
Wayside Railway Stations - In-Charge Constable
1881. At Railway Stations where two or more constables are employed and to which no Head Constable is allotted, a senior constable should be appointed to be in-charge, who should perform the duties of platform Head Constable.
Duties of Platform Staff
1882. (1) The Chief duties of the platform staff are :
(i) the maintenance of order at the Railway Station, and
(ii) watching of suspicious characters when trains with passengers are halting.
(2) Where a sufficient platform staff exists, the platform should be divided by the Circle Inspector into sectors which will be numbered. The staff will be posted to those sectors and their numbers entered against them in the Duty Roster (Form no. 240). They should move about within the limits of their posts. A plan should be hung up in the Police Station showing the limits of each sector and on this will be specified which sector should be filled at the arrival of each train. The hours of duty will be fixed by the Inspector with reference to train timings.
(3) At Railway Police Outposts, a Duty Roster in Form No. 241 will be maintained.
Railway Stations with Two Constables
1883. At Railway Stations where two constables are employed, one will stand near the gate and observe the passengers going out, while the other on the platform where the rear brake van will halt and after the arrival of the train, should move slowly up and down looking into carriages. He should also have an eye to the off-side of the train, crossing the line behind the rear brake van and looking along the train, to prevent passengers from alighting that side.
Beats of the Travelling Staff
1884. (1) A travelling constable’s beat consists of the train by which he travels from his station over a prescribed length of line and the train by which he returns to his station. The serial numbers of the trains which form a beat should be entered in the Duty Roster.
(2) Beat constables should report themselves at the Railway Police Station and Outposts enroute and at the termination of their beats. In all the Railway Police Stations and Outposts, there will be a point book and the beat constables should sign in this book after their reporting at the station or outpost noting therein the train number, the date and also their numbers.
(3) Beat Constables on trains proceeding beyond the State to the other States will be relieved at the points indicated by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Railways, in consultation with his counter-parts of the neighbouring States.
ORGANISATION OF TRAIN BEATS AND STATION PATROLS
1885. (1) There are certain obvious handicaps and difficulties in the detection of railway offences. Offences committed in trains are, as a rule, discovered by victims many miles from the place of their occurrence and the investigator, too, has generally no means of ascertaining the exact scene. Furthermore, Railway Police Officers, whose jurisdictions are confined to railway premises, have often to carry on investigations in places where their local knowledge is limited and their local influence negligible. This explains why practically all offences detected in the Railway Police districts are those in which culprits are caught red-handed.
(2) It should, therefore, be plain that the only effective way of combating crime on railways is by preventive methods such as efficient beats and patrols, aimed, on the one hand, at deterring criminals from operating in trains and railway station premises and at enhancing, on the other, the probability of their being caught red-handed in the event of their committing crime.
(3) Train beats and station patrols should be organized with due regard to crime position in each Railway Police Station. It is the responsibility of the Circle Inspector during his monthly visits to stations to see that beats are well organized. The Superintendent of Police, Railways, must pay particular attention to see that train beats are organised in a systematic manner, served regularly and checked frequently. In this connection, the following instructions are given for the benefit of officers.
(4) The bulk of the crime on railways consists of :-
(a) theft in running passenger trains ;
(b) theft on platforms, in passengers’ waiting rooms and stationary trains ;
(c) theft on running goods trains ;
(d) theft from goods sheds and stationary wagons ; and
(e) theft of railway materials.
(5) Thefts in running passenger trains are generally committed by persons who board the train at one station and escape at another, having committed one or more thefts in between. Such offences are mostly committed at night. If constables on platform and train beat duties are alert, it should not be difficult to prevent and detect such offences, particularly by old offenders known to the police. It is the primary duty of the constables on beat duty to keep a keen look-out for suspicious strangers and known registered criminals visiting railway stations and travelling by trains. It is, of course, important that beat constables should be able to identify by sight all old offenders addicted to railway offences. When they come across old offenders or suspicious strangers in trains or station premises, they should interrogate them as to the purpose of their journey or visits, as the case may be, and if they are not able to give satisfactory account of their movements or articles in their possession, they should be arrested under Section 41 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, and sent up for remand. This will help to combat thefts not only in running trains but also on platform and in passengers waiting rooms and stationary trains.
(6) In order to prevent thefts on platforms, in passengers’ waiting rooms and stationary trains, there should be beats covering station premises for about half an hour before the arrival and half an hour after the departure of every passenger train. At stations where there are night or early morning trains, there should be patrols throughout the night, as passengers may come to the station in the early hours of the night and sleep there. It is not, however, the intention that there should be a beat in every station. Thefts in passenger sheds, stationary trains and on platforms generally occur only at certain important stations. A study of the past crime will show which are the stations that require platform and passengers waiting room beats. Platform beats should not be served throughout the day and night as a general rule, as this obviously involves avoidable waste of man-power.
(7) The only effective method of preventing thefts from running goods trains is by the provision of armed guards to goods trains at night in sectors where such offences are common. But, the provision of armed guards on such trains is the responsibility of the Railway Protection Force, and the Railway Police will undertake this work only under exceptional circumstances.
(8) Thefts from goods sheds and stationary wagons can be prevented by efficient police patrols. At important stations where there will be wagons stabled in large numbers, there should be such patrols throughout the day and night. But, in other places, constables on platform duty should be able to look after goods sheds and stationary wagons also.
(9) Police should maintain a general vigilance in regard to railway materials. But, if train, yard and platform beats are efficiently performed, thefts of railway materials can be automatically controlled.
Travelling Staff
1886. (1) Police constables should be detailed for travelling duty by rotation and kept on beat duty for a month at a time. The travelling staff should be kept up to strength even at the expense, if necessary, of the platform staff. Transfers from and posting to the travelling staff will be made by the Superintendent of Police, Railways.
(2) Police constables of the travelling staff, as a rule are to be exempt from travelling every third day, when they will perform platform duty, if not otherwise detailed.
Duties of Beat Constables
1887. (a) Beat constables should always wear uniform. At every station, they should meet the Station Master and ask whether he wishes to make any report or complaint and obtain his initials in the beat book. When time admits, they will walk from end to end of the train making observations. At important specified stations where there are point books, the beat constables should sign in the point books noting therein the train number, the date and also their metal numbers and police station. They should also note in their beat books (Form No. 242) the page number and line number of the point book where they have signed. On returning from the beat, they will return the beat books to the officer-in-charge of the station.
(b) As an additional precaution, the railway train guard should be required to inform the travelling beat constables by writing in his beat book the train number, date and number of each carriage in which accommodation is reserved for women only, particularly when women passengers travel alone. The beat constables should obtain signature or initials of the train guard for this entry. The beat constable will be required to search the off-sides and the underneath of the compartments and to maintain a watch at each stopping place particularly at the time of the departure of the train to ensure that no one is travelling on foot boards or couplings. Whether these duties would require an increase in strength will be determined by the circumstances then existing. Both the train guard and the travelling beat constable should be held responsible for carrying out this order.
Mufti Constables
(c) In addition to beat constables, constables in mufti may be employed to travel by train on detective duty, such as shadowing suspects.
Watch and Ward
1888. The Railway Police are not responsible for watch and ward duties but they should patrol station yards and goods sheds when criminals are suspected to be operating, and there is reason to believe that unreported thefts are being committed.
PROCEDURE
TELEGRAPHIC REPORTS
1889. (1) All cognizable cases, serious losses of property, all offences falling under Section 126 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (Act IX of 1890), and other important occurrences reported at the outside railway stations should be communicated at once to the Station House Officers of the concerned Railway Police Stations and also to the nearest District Police Station and to the Superintendent of Police, Railways, by the senior member of the platform staff or the beat constable. The descriptive particulars of the property should also be communicated to all railway police stations on the line and connecting lines.
(2) When the Station House Officer is absent from his headquarters, all reports of the above nature received in the station should be telegraphed to him.
(3) (a) Station House Officers should telegraph serious cases and occurrences to the Circle Inspector/ Sub-Divisional Police Officer and the Superintendent of Police, Railways. Likewise, the Circle Inspector should communicate to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer and to the Superintendent of Police, Railways, of any information, which he considers should be reported.
(b) All grave crimes and offences under Sections 126, 127, 128 and 129 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (Act IX of 1890) and strikes or attempted strikes of railway employees should also be communicated to the District Magistrate concerned, followed by an express report..
(c) As regards offences under Section 128 of the Railways Act, they may be treated as minor acts and no report need be sent. However, offences under Sections 127 and 128 of the Railways Act committed by any political party or in an organised manner with a motive to wreck the train and thus cause damage or hurt to a train or person should be reported to the Director General and ADG (L&O) immediately by wireless, followed by detailed reports, in addition to reports being sent to officers shown in (a) above.
(5) For communication apart from telephones, telegrams also could be used. Telegrams concerning Railway cases should be sent on railway service and other telegrams as State messages. Where there is a Police Wireless Station report should be sent by wireless and not by telegrams.
Entering upon Investigation
1890. The Railway Police are bound to investigate all crimes and occurrences which the police are required by the Criminal Procedure Code to investigate.
Personal Investigation by Superior Police Officer
1891. (1) The superior officer should at once proceed to the scene of occurrence and conduct the investigation on receiving the report of any case coming under Section 126 of the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (Act IX of 1890), which involves danger to human life.
(2) He should also send a copy of the report of his investigation to the District Magistrate concerned.
(3) Such cases must be very thoroughly investigated with the co-operation of the district police.
Telegraphic Complaints by Railway Officials
1892. In the matter of complaints or information reported by railway officials by telegram, the telegram should be confirmed by a further report in writing.
Complaints by Railway Officials
1893. On receipt of a report from a railway official which appears to show that cognizable offence has been committed, the Station House Officer will at once send a First Information Report and proceed to make an investigation according to the Criminal Procedure Code.
Shortages and Lost Property
1894. (1) The police should not register information of shortages or of the loss or missing of property as crimes, or proceed to make an investigation according to the Criminal Procedure Code upon such information, unless there is reasonable suspicion that a cognizable offence has been committed in connection with the loss of the articles. They should, however, register such information in the Station House Diary and take whatever steps they can, to trace the missing articles.
(2) In order to ensure that proper steps have been taken to trace missing articles, a register in Form No. 243 will be maintained in Railway Police Stations, entries being made immediately on receipt of the information about the loss or shortage. In column No. 9 of this register, a reference to the Station House Diary page number should be given.
(a) Separate entries, either in separate registers or in different parts of a common register, will be made for -
(i) shortage or loss of goods or parcels ;
(ii) shortage or loss of railway materials ;
(iii) loss of property of passengers.
(b) Entries under item 4 will clearly distinguish whether the shortage or loss occurred in a stationary wagon, a wagon in transit or from a transhipment shed or platform. When making entries in the register, care should be taken to note in column 10 whether a report against any railway official was sent to the railway authorities and the action taken by them thereon.
(c) Station House Officer can himself dispose of any case of shortage or loss amounting to a maximum of Rs. 25. The orders of the Circle Inspector should be obtained where the value exceeds Rs. 25 but is within Rs. 50. In other cases, the orders of the superior Police Officer should be obtained.
(d) Particular attention will be paid by inspecting officers to the action taken and enquiries made by the Station House Officer in regard to such shortages and losses.
(e) The register will also include reports which the Station House Officer transfers to another jurisdiction. He should state his reason for such action and this should be ratified by his Circle Inspector.
Nuisances
1895. All nuisances committed within the railway limits must be dealt with by the Railway Police.
Petty Thefts
1896. (1) Care must be exercised in the matter of refusing to investigate petty thefts on the ground of the small value of the articles stolen. The theft of an important piece of mechanism, though of small intrinsic value, may amount to a grave offence under the Railways Act.
Custody of Prisoners
1897. At Railway Police Stations where there is no lock-up, prisoners who are not immediately sent for remand, should be sent to the nearest District or City Police Station for custody. The hour at which a prisoner is thus sent should be entered in the search register. The guards for the Railway Police prisoners in District Police Station lock-up will be provided by the District Police.
Copy of Inquest Report to be sent to Railway Officials
1898. In cases of death (whether by railway accident or otherwise), within railway limits, in which an investigation is held under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code, an extract of the investigation reports in Form Nos. 244, 245 and 246, will be forwarded to the District Engineer, in all cases, and the District Traffic Superintendent also, in cases occurring within the limits of a railway station. In the event of the investigation having been held by the District Police, a copy of the report will be obtained from them and forwarded to the railway officials concerned.
Disposal of Bodies
1899. The Railway Police should take steps to hand over the body of any person who has been killed or has died within railway limits to the relatives or failing them, to any friend of the deceased, or, if for any reason, that is not possible, to the member of any society or institution willing to perform the last rites for such person ; and if none of these agencies undertake the task, the Railway Police should be responsible for the burial or cremation in a proper manner and in accordance with the nationality and religion of the deceased, the cost being defrayed by the Superintendent of Police, Railways, from his contingent charges.
Prosecution
1900. Prosecution of railway cases will be conducted by the Assistant Public Prosecutors and Public Prosecutors of the districts except where a Prosecutor is specifically appointed for the Railway Police.
Serving of Summons
1901. Where witnesses in Railway Police cases reside outside the limits of the Railway Police Station, arrangements should be made to have the summons served through the concerned Police Station in whose limits the witnesses reside.
Station Crime History
1902. To facilitate the study of crime and criminals of the Railway Police, the following parts of the Crime History will be maintained in all Railway Police Stations. It is a confidential record-
Part II - Crime- Occurrence and classification Register.
Part IV- General Information
Part V - General Conviction Register
Part VI- History Sheet.
Part VII-Station Crime Chart.
The other parts of the crime history maintained in the district police stations need not be maintained in the Railway Police Stations.
Part II-Crime, Occurrence and Classification Register
1903. (1) In Part II (Form No. 91) should be entered chronologically all true crimes and attempts under the following classes, additional classes being included only with the sanction of the Deputy Inspector-General, Railways.
Thefts
(A) Thefts of Passenger’s Belongings
(i) in running trains ;
(ii) on platforms, in waiting halls or rooms and stationary trains ;
and
(iii) other thefts.
(B) Thefts of Railway Property (including that consigned to Railways as bailees)
(i) from running trains;
(a) from goods trains ;
(b) from parcel trains or brake vans of passenger trains ;
(ii) from goods sheds ;
(iii) from parcel offices and platforms ;
(iv) from yards ;
(v) other thefts.
(1) Thefts of Railway Property
(i) from stores and shops, including carriages, wagons and loco shops and workshops (where they are within the jurisdiction of the Railway Police).
(ii) fittings including electric fittings from carriages and wagons.
(iii) fittings from locomotives (engines), and thefts from locosheds.
(iv) coal thefts
(v) other thefts.
(2) Burglaries.
(3) Robberies
(a) of passengers’ belongings.
(b) of railway property including goods consigned to them.
(4) Dacoities
(a) of passengers’ belongings.
(b) of railway property including goods consigned to them.
(5) Cheating
(a) of passengers.
(b) of railways.
(6) Criminal Misappropriation and Criminal Breach of Trust
(a) of railway property including property consigned to railway as bailees.
(b) of passengers belongings.
(7) Possession of Stolen Property
(a) Railway property including unlawful possession thereof punishable
under the Railway Stores (Unlawful Possession ) Act, 1955.
(b) Goods consigned to railways.
(c) Passengers belongings.
(8) Counterfeiting or Uttering of Currency (paper and metal)
(9) Murders including Culpable Homicide.
(a) for gain
(b) others.
(10) Administering of Stupefying Drugs.
(11) Assault on Public Servants.
(12) Sabotage which includes removal of fish-plates, using of explosives, etc.
(13) Mischief
(14) Miscellaneous
(a) other offences against person
(b) other offences against property
GENERAL
(1) At the close of each year, the Circle Inspector should enter an analytical review of the station crime and formulate a programme for prevention and detection during the ensuing year.
(2) A Crime Register in Form No. 20 will be maintained in every Railway Police Station. This also serves as an index to the F.I.Rs. The name of the railway on which the crime has occurred should be noted as an additional item in column 2 of the Crime Register (Form No. 20).
Part IV-General Information (Form No. 247)
1904. (1) The Station Crime History, Part IV, will contain general information. It will be kept in loose sheet forms, with appropriate headings, as detailed below :
(a) Extent of station jurisdiction, quoting actual mileage and a list of railway stations in the jurisdiction giving actual mileage and code name of each station.
(b) Plan of the railway line in the station jurisdiction showing railway stations and important bridges with mileage’s in each case.
(c) Local Police Station and district in which each railway station lies.
(d) A list of all bus routes in the jurisdiction of local police station in whose limits the railway line passes.
(e) Magistrates (both executive and judicial) within the jurisdiction, noting against each, his headquarters and his jurisdiction as far as the Railway Police are concerned.
(f) A list of receivers of stolen property living not only within the jurisdiction of Railway Police Station limits but also living within the local district limits in whose jurisdiction the railway line passes.
(g) A list of jatras and festivals, their probable date and duration, and the strength required for each and any special precautions necessary. the list should not only include jatras and festivals within the jurisdiction of Railway Police Station but also those of the local district limits in whose jurisdiction the railway line passes.
(h) A list of weekly markets, commodities sold, nearest railway station and the average number of passengers alighting there. The list of weekly markets should not only include those within the limits of Railway Police Stations but also those within the local district police limits in whose jurisdiction the railway line passes.
(I) A note on the Railway Protection Force Staff.
(j) Notes on important disputes which may cause interference with the running of the railway. These should include all labour disputes and a special note on any friction or dispute among the subordinates of the railway.
(k) A list of ex-convicts containing the names of all railway criminals residing within five miles radius of the Railway Police Station jurisdiction will also be maintained by every Railway Police Station.
(l) A list of dismissed railway employees and members of political parties and criminal gangs likely to indulge in acts of sabotage.
(2) This register should in fact contain a summary of such information as will be useful to a new Sub-Inspector taking over charge of the station.
(3) Information pertaining to the districts and required for the maintenance of this record should be obtained from the Station House Officers of the local Police Stations of the districts in which the railway line passes.
(4) All entries in this record should be edited, signed and dated by the Circle Inspector. Only the station copy of the record is to be maintained. The Circle Inspector will not maintain a copy with his circle records but will summarise all important points in his Circle Information Book.
Part V-General Conviction Register
1905. Part V-General Conviction Register will be maintained in Form No. 248, and will be for the entire Railway Police Station. The names of all the persons convicted for the offences detailed in Order 1903, should be entered. The instructions given in Order 1043 for the maintenance of the General Conviction Register will also apply to Railway Police General Conviction Register.
Part VI-History Sheets
1906. (1) Part VI-will contain (in Form No.97) the history sheets of persons resident, whether permanently or temporarily in the station local area who are known or believed to be addicted to or to aid or abet, the commission of crime on the railway, whether convicted or not, or who are believed to be habitual receivers of property stolen in offences committed on the railway.
(2) (a) (i) The Railway Crime Record Bureau will maintain history sheets of selected criminals of special importance who operate over an extended area. These persons will be known as railway criminals. Superintendent of Police, Railways, will decide what persons should be registered as railway criminals.
(ii) The instructions regarding reporting the activities and movements of district criminals apply equally to railway criminals. The Station House Officer is responsible for reporting to the Railway Crime Record Bureau, particulars of arrest, conviction, release from jail, passing out of view, conduct, movements, etc., or any other information likely to be of use or general interest, in respect of every railway criminal for whom a history sheet is maintained in his station and in respect of any railway criminal about whom he may obtain information on the points specified.
(b) For a criminal, who has a history sheet in a Railway Police Station, a history sheet will also be maintained in the local police station in the jurisdiction of which he resides. These sheets will be marked with a red ‘R’ and below it, the name of the Railway Police Station and history sheet No., e.g., R/Mysore-11 will be marked. The Railway Police Station history sheet will be marked similarly with letter ‘L’, e.g., L/Mysore-15. Local and Railway Police Station House Officers will report to each other, information of arrest, conviction, etc., and all matters of interest in respect of such persons.
(c) History Sheets Numbering-History sheets will be numbered serially in each Railway Police Station and the following indices will be maintained.
(i) Index to history sheets-Serial order in Form No. 98.
(ii) Index to history sheets-Alphabetical order in Form No.99.
(d) A check register of all persons having history sheets in the station will be maintained in Form No. 105 as per Order 1078. These persons will be checked, whenever practicable by the Railway Police. When this is not practicable, the local police should be referred to for particulars of the activities of such persons.
(3) Instructions about opening, maintenance and closure of history sheets, as contained in Order 1055 will also apply to history sheets of the Railway Police.
Index
1907. (1) The following indices will be maintained :
(i) An alphabetical loose-leaf Crime Classification Index to Part II and Part V-General Conviction Register as per list specified in Order 1050 in Form No. 249.
(ii) An alphabetical index of persons entered in Part V-General Conviction Register.
(2) A check register of persons entered in Part V-General Conviction Register should be maintained in Form No.250, village-war, villages being arranged alphabetically.
Maintenance of Particulars by the Railway Police Stations of History Sheets Opened in the District Police.
1908. (1) As soon as a history sheet is opened in a police station of a district, the descriptive particulars of such a person will be communicated in Form No. 251 to the nearest Station House Officer of the Railway Police Station.
(2) Any important information such as going out of view, death, change of residence of such history-sheeted person including closure of history sheets should be promptly communicated to the Railway Police Station.
(3) A register in Form No.252 will be opened in the Railway Police Station to watch the movements of such history-sheeted persons and communication of any information of interest to the concerned Station House Officer of the local District Police Station.
Part VII-Station Crime Charts
1909. A crime chart will be maintained in every Railway Police Station in the same way as in District Police Stations. The modus operandi classification of crime will be charted by figures and letters as shown in Order 1903. For example, a case of theft of passenger’s belongings in a running train on 05.09.1964 will be shown as 1 (A) (I) /5/9 on the crime chart for 1964 at the place where it has occurred.
Co-operation with the District Police
1910. (1) There should be the closest co-operation between the District and Railway Police.
(2) The Railway Police should be in a position to afford the greatest assistance to the District Police in arresting offenders who are trying to escape and in noting the movements of criminals.
(3) In matters of placing obstructions on the line, tearing up rails, throwing stones at trains and the like, the help of the District Police should be promptly sought.
(4) In the event of crime being committed in the limits of the District Police, but in the close neighbourhood of the railway, the Railway Police should take any legal action pending the arrival of the District Police.
(5) (a) (i) The Director General may require the District Police to take over the entire responsibility for the investigation of a grave crime such as murder or dacoity, the circumstances of which are of a local nature quite unconnected with the railway even though the case occurred within the jurisdiction of the Railway Police.
(ii) In the event of a strike on the railway, the Railway Police investigating staff will deal with the ordinary offences of normal times while the staff of the District Police, which will be reinforced, will investigate all the offences arising out of the strike except those considered by the Director General as sufficiently grave to be taken up by the Criminal Investigation Department.
Such cases should be supervised by the superior officers of the District Police, but will be registered and the investigation recorded at the Railway Police Station having jurisdiction.
(b) Whenever a case is reported to the Railway Police for which other than railway criminals are suspected to be responsible, information about the occurrence will be sent at once by wireless or telegram or telephone to the District Police Station House Officer by the officer-in-charge of the Railway police Station. If it is not possible to send a wireless or telegram or telephone message, a crime report will be sent expeditiously.
(6) Whenever a Circle Inspector of the District Police finds himself in the same place as the Superintendent of Police, Railways, he should visit that officer and similarly Inspectors of the Railway Police should frequently visit superior officers of the District Police.
(7) When an offence committed within Railway Police Jurisdiction is reported to a District Police Station of the railway line, the latter should forthwith inform the Railway Police Station to be followed up by a First Information Report transferring the case. If the case is reported to a District Police Station on the railway line, the First Information Report transferring the case to the Railway Police Station with jurisdiction should be sent forthwith.
In either of the above cases, the Station House Officer to whom the case is first reported will at once take up the investigation and proceed until the jurisdiction Station House Officer arrives on the spot and takes up further investigation.
CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN CIVIL POLICE, G.R.P. AND R.P.F. AS PER THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RAILWAY REFORMS COMMITTEE ON GOVT. RAILWAY POLICE AND AS PER M.H.A. SECRET LETTER NO.24013/27/GPA VI DATED 21-1-87
1911. (8) (a) Officer incharge of G.R.P. Police Station shall invariably hold regular monthly meetings with the officer I/c of R.P.F. Posts in his jurisdiction to review crime situation and to exchange information for the better control, prevention and detection of crime and also for maintenance of law and order on railway trains and premises.
(b) Similarly S.D.P.O./G.R.P. will hold co-ordination meetings with the concerned Asst. Commandant/R.P.F. once in 2 months and submit the minutes to the superior officers of the G.R.P. and R.P.F.
(c) Superintendent of Railway Police shall hold co-ordination meetings with the District Superintendent of Police and the Commandant, R.P.F. once in every quarter of ensuring better co-ordination and co-operation between the G.R.P., Civil Police and the R.P.F. Such meetings will also be a forum for exchange of information and intelligence pertaining to crime and other matters related to the maintenance of law and order on railways including conducting of joint checks and special drives against miscreants and anti-social elements affecting the smooth functioning of railways and security of passengers. The difficulties experienced by their respective staff shall also be discussed and sorted out at those meetings. Minutes of these co-ordinating meetings shall be sent to Deputy Inspector General, Railways and Deputy Inspector General/Addl.Inspector General, RPF and Range Deputy Inspector General of Police/Range IGPs.
(d) Deputy Inspector General, Railway Police will hold co-ordination meeting with the DIG/Addl.I.G., RPF at-least once in 6 months for better co-operation and co-ordination between G.R.P. and R.P.F. They will review the law and order situation of the area and take steps to improve the position. They will also review the proceedings/minutes of the co-ordination meetings of the S.R.P., District Superintendent of Police and the Commandant R.P.F.
(e) Where there is differences of opinion between the State police including Government Railway Police and R.P.F. the immediate superior officer of the Railway Police will convene a meeting with his counterpart of the RPF without loss of time and sort out the differences.
(f) In case of breach of peace or law and order situation taking place on the railway premises and also where smooth movement of railway traffic is seriously affected, the officer incharge of the concerned G.R.P. posts, on receipt of such information from the railway authorities shall immediately take appropriate action to control the situation. On such occasion the official I/c of R.P.F. post shall on requisition by the police officer concerned, render all possible assistance to the police.
Special Detective Parties
1912. (a) In the event of occurrence of serious crime on the Railways, Special Detective Parties of selected Police Officers, both from the Railway Police and local District Police, should be formed jointly by the Superintendent of Police, Railways, and the Superintendent or Superintendents of the concerned District Police.
(b) When a cognizable crime outside his limits is reported to a Station House Officer of a Railway Police Station, he should register and transfer it to the local police and also take up its investigation pending the arrival of the local police.
Procedure in Cases of Thefts of Materials from Railway Track
1913 (1) As soon as a theft takes place from the railway track or premises, immediate intimation will be sent by the railway authorities not only to the Railway Police Station having jurisdiction but also to the local District Police. This is necessary because very often such thefts occur at considerable distances from the Railway Police Station and it is necessary that immediate local enquiries should be made in the area, pending the arrival of the Railway Police Sub-Inspector on the scene.
(2) The Railway Police will register and investigate such cases and will be wholly responsible for all further action in the matter.
(3) The local District Police Station House Officer, on receipt of the intimation from the railway authorities, will enter it in his Station House Diary and will cause local enquiries to be made in his jurisdiction regarding the possible culprits and the disposal of the property. He will also render the Railway Police such assistance as may be necessary from time to time in the investigation of the case.
(4) Thefts of materials in railway station yards and goods yards will be reported to the Railway Police Station having jurisdiction. The Railway Police can always call on the local police for such assistance as may be necessary, from time to time, in respect of these cases.
(5) A complaint of theft or loss may be accepted for registration and investigation at the first Railway Police Station at which a theft on a running train or from railway premises is reported and then if the scene of offence is definitely located to be under the jurisdiction of some other Police Station, the case may be transferred promptly to that Police Station. Otherwise, the Police Station at which the case is first registered should pursue the case to its end.
Steps to Minimize Thefts on the Railways
1914. (1) The bulk of the crime on railways consists of (a) thefts in running passenger trains, (b) thefts on platforms, in passenger sheds and stationary trains, (c) thefts on running goods trains, (d) thefts from goods sheds and stationary wagons, and (e) thefts of railway materials. In all these classes of crime, the stolen property is in almost all the cases, disposed of outside the railway jurisdiction. Frequent surprise checks of local criminals and receivers of stolen property and constant watch by the Railway Police over the movements of these people, especially in the vicinity of railway premises, will help to a great extent in minimizing these offences. The local police who have a better knowledge of local criminals should give a helping hand to the Railway Police in this matter. As regards thefts on platforms and goods sheds, constant patrolling of important places by the Railways Police staff will minimize these offences, as explained in Order 1885.
(2) According to Order 1906, for a criminal who has a history sheet in the Railway Police Station, a history sheet should also be maintained in the local Police Station, in the jurisdiction of which he resides and he should be watched by the staff of the local Police Station. Whenever the District Police find such a criminal absent from his house during their check, they should immediately intimate the fact of his absence to all the Railway Police Stations in whose limits he has operated in the past. As required in Order 1910, closest co-operation should be maintained between the District Police and the railway police. There should be frequent exchange of information between the Railway Police and the District Police by means of correspondence as well as meetings of all ranks from Sub-Inspectors to the Superintendent. Meetings between the Superintendent and the Superintendent of Police, Railways, should also be attended by the Station House Officers of the Railway Police Stations having jurisdiction over the district and the Station House Officers of the district through whose jurisdiction the railway line passes, besides the Inspectors and Sub-Divisional Officers of both the Railway Police and the District Police. These meetings should be held once in six months and more often, if necessary. At each of these meetings, they should discuss every offence reported subsequent to their previous meeting and discuss ways and means of improving the prevention and detection of crime, with particular reference to black spots.
(3) In all cases in which the crime is suspected to be the work of habitual criminals, a crime card should be sent to all neighboring Police Stations, the Circle Inspector, the Sub-Divisional Officer, if one exists and the Railway Crime Record Bureau. If the offenders are from outside, prompt information should also be sent by wire or wireless to the neighboring Police Stations and Railway Police Sub-Inspectors. Station House Officers who receive information whether by crime card or by wire should immediately institute necessary enquiries and promptly report the result by wire or memorandum. Station House Officers will be responsible for the prompt circulation of lists of property lost and description of absconding offenders to stations where they are likely to be useful.
(4) Offences on railway lines, such as thefts of sleepers, fish plates, and dog spikes, are not infrequent. The Railway Police should not hesitate to seek the co-operation of the local police, who will have better knowledge of the local conditions, in detecting these offences, and regarding offenders and receivers of stolen property. It is common knowledge that most of these materials are useful in preparing agricultural implements and the villagers will in all probability be taking away these materials for preparing those implements. Contact with local blacksmiths and close touch with village officers and their servants and a good set of informants will help to a great extent in detecting these offences. It is also quite probable that some of the cases of this type might be the mischief committed by cattle boys or others, not knowing the seriousness of the offences. In such cases, the police should contact the local people, preferably the elders, explain to them the consequences of such incidents on the railways, and warn the villagers not to meddle with the railway materials. The local police should also take interest in such cases. Railway Police Officers, especially Station House Officers and Inspectors, should interest themselves in the study of the local crime and criminals and keep personal contacts with the local police. Mutual co-operation will be helpful to both.
(5) Thieves on running trains operate in two ways. They either get down with stolen property at a station enroute or drop the stolen property while the train is in motion get down at the next station, walk back and collect the property. In either case the thief may either dispose of the property in the nearest town or go by train or bus to another town where he has a receiver. When a theft is reported from a train, immediate information, giving the details and description of the property lost and the description of the accused if known should be sent to officers-in-charge of both Railway and District Police Stations, so that, they may keep an immediate look out for the thief and the property at Railway Stations and bus stands. To evade the vigilance of the police the thief often gets down on the off side of the train. The offside should , therefore, receive as much attention as the platform.
(6) Persons stealing railway goods or possessing stolen railway property should be proceeded against under the provisions of the Railway Stores (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1955, the provisions of which must be thoroughly understood and properly implemented by all Investigating Officers.
Stopping of Trains at Non-stopping and Detachment of a Railway Carriage in a case of Serious Crime
1915. In special and urgent cases, a superior police officer may, by written requisition to the concerned local Railway Official, cause a train to be stopped at a station at which it is not booked to stop either to effect an arrest or when the stoppage is otherwise necessary, to safeguard the public peace and ensure safety.
1916. In the event of the occurrence of murder or other serious crime in a running train, immediate steps should be taken to prevent the disappearance of evidence in the shape of fingerprints, blood stains and other marks which might lead to the crime being brought home to the culprit. For this purpose, the carriage or compartment concerned should be emptied of passengers and sealed as soon as possible by the first Police Officer receiving information of the occurrence. The Police Officer should then arrange for the carriage to be detached at the first station at which arrangements could be made to replace it. At the same time instructions should be issued for the carriage to be sent by the first available train to the Railway Police Station having jurisdiction to investigate the offence.
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS
Notice of Accidents to the Police
1917. (1) Under Section 83 of the Indian Railways Act and the rules made by the Government of India under Section 84, the Station Master nearest to the place at which the accident has occurred, or where there is no Station Master, the railway servant in-charge of the section of the railway on which the accident has occurred, is bound to give information about the following accidents without unnecessary delay to the Station House Officer, in whose limits the accident occurred, and to the District Magistrate, the Superintendent of the district concerned and the Superintendent of Police, Railways :
(a) any accident attended with loss of human life, or with grievous hurt as defined in the Indian Penal Code, or with serious injury to property ;
(b) any collision between trains of which one is a train carrying passengers;
(c) any derailment of any train carrying passengers or of any part of such a train ;
(d) any accident of a description usually attended with loss of human life or with such grievous hurt as aforesaid or with serious injury to property ;
(e) any accident of any other description which the Central Government may notify in this behalf in the Official Gazette.
Accidents on Private Sidings
1918. Section 83 of the Indian Railway Act, 1890 (Act IX of 1890), and the rules framed under Section 84 of the said Act apply to accidents on private sidings. Accidents occurring on such sidings should be reported similarly as accident occurring on main lines of railway.
Duties of Police in Connection with Accidents on the Railways
1919. (a) The duties of he police in connection with accidents on the railways are laid down in rules 28-33 made by the Government of India under Section 84 of the Indian Railway Act.
Railway Officials to Communicate to District and Railway Police
(b) The railway authorities will communicate information of accidents both to the Railway Police and the District Police. The nearest Police Officer should take any action that may be immediately necessary.
Mobilisation at Accident
(c) On the occurrence of a serious accident, the Station House Officer of the Railway Police should mobilise the staff of his station and have them taken to the spot. If the staff of one station are insufficient, the Inspector should mobilise other stations also. The Railway Police should guard the property and help the injured persons. The District Police will also send police parties to the spot to assist the Railway Police in guarding the property and helping the injured.
Reports of Accidents, Injury and Death
(d) All cases of accident, injury and death occurring on the railway should be mentioned in the Station House Diary and also by the inspector in his diary.
Hints to Investigating Officers Investigating Suspected Cases of Sabotage
1920. Following points should be borne in mind by Investigating Officers in investigating cases of suspected sabotage:-
(1) Site of Accident and Time of Occurrence
(a) It should be examined whether the place of accident is a secluded area, at or near a gradient curve, bridge or culvert. Availability of covers for the saboteurs etc., to be examined.
(b) Height of embankment at the sight to be measured.
(c) Time of accident to be ascertained.
(2) Open Fish-plates
(a) Determine whether it happened before or after the accident and differentiate between bolts opened by hand and machine from those torn off as a result of accident. Threads of bolts and nuts found at the scene will help in arriving at the correct conclusion.
(b) Displaced rails.-(i) Examine screw holes and threads to see whether they are torn or intact.
(ii) Examine whether rail seats are crushed.
(c) Last rail intact at the point of suspected fractures:
(i) Existence of burr is highly significant against sabotage
(ii) Rounding off supports sabotage strongly ;
(iii) Position of wheels of derailed wagons is a matter of great importance and should be examined carefully as to whether the position of displaced rails could have been possible after the accident.
(iv) Prepare carefully a map of the sight of accident. If railway plan-
drawers are used he should carefully check each item shown on the
map.
(v) Determination of speed at the time of accident
(a) In case of through trains, the time of passing of previous station and the
exact time of occurrence may give the possible and likely speed of the train
at accident.
(b) If the train had stopped at the previous station, the time of departure, the distance
at which accident occurred and the time of accident, if known, may lead to
very approximate calculations of the speed of the train.
(vi) Braking distance, vacuum brakes, reaction time, visibility, weather
condition and the depth of water by the side of embankment should be
carefully noted as it will affect decisions.
(vii) The movements of suspicious characters and of known saboteurs should
be verified.
(viii) If track patrolling is in vogue in the area, ascertain at what time they passed
at the spot of accident.
(ix) Verify whether other trains passed shortly before the accident and if so, their
drivers and guards should be questioned. Station records of both stations
between which accident occurred should be seen immediately to prevent
tampering of records.
(x) Note whether the victim train was carrying any bullions, currency etc.
(xi) Take the photographs of he sight of the accident from various angles and
of various materials concerned. Make use of scientific aids for tools
marks, fingerprints (latents), particles of exploded material if bomb is
used, etc.
Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Accidents
1921. (1) Prosecution should not be launched in cases of accident on the railways, till the receipt of the report of the Government Inspector of Railways.
(2) A copy of the findings of the Government Inspector of Railways, as per his final report, will be sent to the Superintendent of Police, Railways, within seven days of its receipt by the General Manager. The Superintendent of Police, Railways, will consider the report and inform the General Manager within seven days, whether or not a prosecution is to be launched.
Responsibility for Preventing Railway Accidents
1922. While the responsibility for preventing accidents at level crossings and elsewhere on the railway rests with the railway servants, Railway Police Officers should, whenever any inquiry discloses the existence of a danger to the public, take steps to bring the fact prominently to the notice of the Station master or higher authority concerned.
MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUCTIONS
Unclaimed Property
1923. Unclaimed property should be made over to the Station Master for disposal. If, however, the unclaimed property consists of arms, ammunition, explosives, intoxicating liquor, opium and its preparations or hemp drugs, the sale of which by unlicensed persons is prohibited by law, it should not be made over to the Station Master for disposal, but it is the duty of the Railway Police to take suitable steps for its disposal.
Railway Servants as Witnesses
1924. When railway subordinates are bound over by the police to appear as witnesses, the district officer of the department concerned should be informed and he will arrange for their relief.
Railway Police not to Purchase Tickets for Passengers
1925. The Railway Police are strictly prohibited from having anything to do with the purchase or sale of tickets or to act as ticket nippers or collection of excess fares demanded from passengers, otherwise than as provided by the Indian Railways Act, 1890 (IX of 1890).
Watching District Criminals and Foreigners
1926. (1) When persons, known or suspected to be criminals, are found travelling, they should be carefully watched and a telegram sent warning the District Police of the place to which they are travelling and the Railway Police Stations having jurisdiction over the place to which they are travelling.
(2) The Railway Police Station House Officer is responsible for sending a report of the arrival of a foreigner to the nearest District Police Station, independently of the report made by the travelling constable watching a foreigner. When a foreigner alights at a railway station, where there is no constable of the District Police nor platform constable, the travelling constable should, in the absence of any better means of communication, give the information to the platform constable of the next station where a platform constable is located and instruct him to inform the local police as expeditiously as possible.
Festivals
1927. A list of festivals held near the railway line detailing the police arrangements to be made should be kept in every Railway Police Station. The Railway Police should also depute constables to attend festivals and jatras held in the limits of District Police Stations in the jurisdiction of which the railway line of the Railway Police Station passes.
Intimation to Railway Police about Miscreants of Large Number of Persons
1928. Whenever big parties of persons travel and intend going to specific places, intimation should be sent by Station House Officer of the Railway Police Station to the Station House Officer of the District Police Station of the destination and also to the Station House Officer of the Railway Police Station, if there is one, to enable him to make such arrangements as are necessary.
Railway Strike
1929. In the event of a railway strike, the whole or part of the Railway Protection Scheme should be put into operation by the Superintendent of Police, Railways, after obtaining the orders of the Director General of Police.
Drill and Instruction
1930. (1) Hours of drill and instruction, which should necessarily depend upon train timings should be specified by the Inspector and hung up in each Police Station.
(2) Platform constables at out-stations should be relieved for three days each month and called to the Railway Police Station for drill and instruction.
(3) Constables employed on platform duty at out-stations should be changed periodically at the discretion of the Superintendent of Police, Railways.
Rules for the Use and Custody of Arms
1931. (1) The arms will be kept in the station secured to an arms rack by means of a chain fastened with a lock, and will be in-charge of the PI/Sub-Inspector or other officer in-charge of the station in his absence. Station sentries will keep the key and be responsible for the arms in succession. The ammunition will be kept in a locked ammunition box the key of which will be kept by the station sentry. The officer-in-charge of the station in his absence, will be responsible for its correctness and this officer will issue the requisite number of rounds whenever necessity arises.
(2) Head Constables and Constables will be armed with fire arms on such occasions as may be prescribed by the Superintendent of Police, Railways, but the Station House Officer may direct fire arms to be used in an emergency or for the following purpose :
(a) patrolling station yards, goods sheds, tranship sheds and
yards ;
(b) escorting running goods train ; and
(c) escorting prisoners.
Postings of Officers to Railway Police
1932. (a) The Deputy Inspector-General, Railways, Bangalore, will annually obtain from the Commissioner, and all Superintendents of the districts through their Range Inspectors-General, a list of Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors suitable for transfer to the Railway Police.
(b) The Commissioner and the Range officers should note their remarks specifically against each name as to the suitability of the officers to work in the Railway Police or otherwise and ensure that proportionate number of officers are proposed through their range or units.
(c) A Committee of the following will be constituted for purposes of selection :
(i) The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Railways- Chairman
(ii) The Superintendent of Police, Railways- Member
(d) The Committee will consider the list of officers recommended by the Commissioners, Range Inspectors General and Superintendents of Police of the District, select and draw up a panel of officers considered suitable to work in the Railway Police. The Committee may also include the names of any other officers in the panel whom the Committee consider suitable. The Committee may consult the confidential report of officers and if necessary hold an interview before the selection is made.
(e) Copies of the panel should be sent to the Director General, Commissioner, Range Inspectors General and the Superintendents of the districts.
(f) The panel should contain sufficient number of officers which should not be, in any case, less than the sanctioned strength of the Railway Police.
(g) The postings of Officers from the districts to the railway police, will be made by the Director General. However internal transfer of Police Sub Inspectors can be made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Railways, and of the other ranks below the rank of Police Sub Inspectors, by the Superintendent of Police, Railways.
(h) Pro forma liens of Inspectors and Sub Inspectors should be retained in the City Police, Range or districts for purposes of seniority, promotion, etc.