RPF saves 862 minors, arrests 44 traffickers in ECR since Jan this year

Patna: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the East Central Railway (ECR) has rescued hundreds of vulnerable children and seized contraband worth crores during multiple operations conducted across its jurisdiction since January this year.According to ECR’s principal chief security commissioner-cum-IG, RPF, Amaresh Kumar, under Operation Nanhe Farishtey, the RPF rescued 862 minors, including 605 boys and 257 girls, from railway stations and trains within the ECR zone. Simultaneously, under Operation AAHT, RPF personnel brought 44 habitual human traffickers to book during a drive against trafficking networks, he said.The RPF also carried out several humanitarian initiatives during the period. Under Operation Dignity, at least 158 persons, including 79 men and 79 women, were rescued and rehabilitated. In another initiative, Operation Mahila Suraksha, the lives of 63 women passengers were saved through timely intervention by RPF personnel. Kumar added that the RPF women’s wing assisted 12 pregnant women in safe deliveries during train journeys under Operation Matrashakti.On the enforcement front, the RPF confiscated narcotics worth over Rs 3.29 crore under Operation Narcos. It also arrested 5,140 persons involved in illegal alarm chain pulling (ACP) and 641 individuals linked to theft of passengers’ belongings under Operation Yatri Suraksha. In wildlife-related offences, six persons were arrested in connection with illegal trafficking cases, the IG said.In addition, the RPF made significant recoveries of stolen property. Under Operation Amanat, stolen luggage worth Rs 1.85 crore was retrieved and returned to rightful owners. Banned contraband, especially liquor worth over Rs 1.23 crore, was seized, and 645 persons were arrested for illicit trafficking.During various checking operations, RPF personnel seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 1.91 crore and arrested three individuals. Gold worth Rs 30 lakh and silver valued at Rs 13 lakh were also recovered. Kumar said these operations reflect the RPF’s continued commitment to passenger safety, crime prevention, anti-trafficking efforts and humanitarian assistance across the ECR zone.