Getting their act together

City railway police keep a watch on errant constables The rape of a 17-year-old girl by constable Sunil More has shaken up the Mumbai police and has also sent aftershocks through the railway police, who've have been placed on alert since the incident. Police Commissioner (Railways) Suresh Khopade has issued circulars to his officers asking them to keep a watch on errant constables, who man the ladies compartment in suburban trains.The strength of the railway police stands at about 3,500. A large part of this number (slightly over 3,000) are constables. Officers in the crime branch and the railway police say that all the senior inspectors in charge of 17 police stations have been asked to keep a watch on the constables who are known to drink and womanise. "Each officer in charge will have to identify and verify such constables working under him and submit a confidential report in this regard," says a senior inspector. Officers say that once the report is submitted, senior authorities will decide how to deal with these constables. Keeping a watch on railway police constables is important as female commuters frequently complain about the rudeness and ineptitude of the cops on duty. "At night, you will find that they (police) come in groups and whistle. They also block the entrance. When you ask them to move they say that they are constables and are on duty and are here to protect women," complains lawyer and activist Flavia Agnes. She further complains about their rowdy behaviour. Avisha Kulkarni, General Secretary of the Womanist Party of India feels that the ladies compartment should be guarded by women constables. "There should be more women in the railway police force. I have found that when women constables are travelling in the ladies' compartment, men don't pass comments. The lady constables are more aggressive and more sensitised towards the problems of the lady commuters," says Avisha. Khopade assures that legal action is taken against railway police who misbehave.