Kolkata, Aug. 27 -- In a stringent move to stop dangerous acts on railway properties, the Eastern Railway (ER) has arrested 853 people over the last three months for performing stunts and making social media videos on railway tracks.
The special drive, which was conducted between May 1 and July 31, was aimed at stopping the rising trend of people risking their lives for "likes" and "shares" on social media platforms. ER officials filed 828 cases against teenagers and youths across four of its divisions: Howrah, Sealdah, Asansol, and Malda. In addition, 6,608 penalty cases were registered, with court fines amounting to Rs 3,18,220 and total penalties worth Rs 33,12,900 were realised.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel caught people doing highly dangerous acts, including pre-wedding photo shoots on railway tracks, running right next to moving trains, and performing stunts on train coach doors. Apart from these, officials noted that many people were apprehended while crossing the railway tracks instead of using foot overbridges, ignoring clear warning signs.
"No social media video or shortcut is worth risking any life. We earnestly request everyone to use designated bridges and crossings, because safety is our utmost priority," said Shibram Majhi, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the ER.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.