GRP shifts gears: Convictions for rail sabotage now top priority

Officials say coordination with district police, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and railway administration is being intensified to ensure a unified response, especially in cases involving organised sabotage or repeated offences along vulnerable stretches.

Divisional officers are asked to track case progress, identify bottlenecks, and fix accountability for delays in the process.

GRP instructions require improved evidence collection at the investigation stage, timely filing of charge sheets, and continuous liaison with prosecutors during trials to strengthen prosecution.

In a recent case from Rae Bareli’s Unnchahar, a court sentenced a person involved in stone pelting to one year of imprisonment, cited by officials as an important deterrent.

The renewed focus follows recurring stone pelting and attempts to damage railway property across various parts of the state, prompting tighter enforcement and follow-up.

Officials note that stone pelting, often seen as a minor offence, is increasingly treated under the stricter framework when it endangers passengers and running trains, aligning enforcement with safety risk.

The strategy centers on rigorous application of Section 152 of the Railways Act, 1989, which covers acts such as placing obstructions on tracks, tampering with railway systems, or stone pelting that endangers passengers. Punishments can range up to 10 years or life imprisonment depending on severity and intent.

The DG emphasises that registration of cases alone is not enough; the focus must be on closing cases through convictions to create a deterrent effect, requiring tighter coordination among investigating officers, prosecution agencies and railway authorities.

Six GRP sections — Lucknow, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Agra and Jhansi — are directed to identify the ten most serious cases in their jurisdictions and pursue them on priority, with regular monitoring at senior levels.

Director general Prakash D notes that more than 400 cases from 2025 are pending before trial courts, with many delays attributed to procedural issues or weak follow-up. The department directs prioritization of these cases.

UP Government Railway Police announces a calibrated policy shift toward aggressive, outcome-driven enforcement. Six GRP divisions (Lucknow, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj, Agra and Jhansi) are instructed to identify and pursue the 10 most serious cases of suspected rail sabotage and stone pelting, with regular senior-level monitoring.