We are immensely pained to know that vandals have recently caused much damage to the Kashmir Railways. According to a release by the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Northern Railways on July 20, rowdy crowds indulged in stone pelting and extensive vandalism on the trains resulting in breakage of window panes, damage to back rest of seats and tearing off of seat covers. There are also reports about damage to expensive CCTV equipment/junction boxes in the Peer Panjal Tunnel.
We outright reject vandalism and the trend of inflicting damage to public property. Indiscipline cannot and should not be tolerated. However, some questions arise. Where was railway protection force and why did it not anticipate the trouble and take pre-emptive measures? Why were not the police force alerted and the help of State police solicited? Why did the railway protection force allow roof top travelling knowing that it is extremely dangerous to do so? If some people had died owing fall from the roof top, it would have led to serious crisis in the State. Thus it appears that the railway authorities as well as the police have not moved quickly to forestall any mischief.
Attacking trains and public transport has become part of public demonstration in our country. Kashmir is no exception. Every other day we hear of public demonstrations on one or the other complaint against railway authorities. These have to be handled with care and through pre-emptive action. Now that it has happened in Kashmir also, we would suggest firstly that the railway protection force should be deployed in good number to ensure safety of the track and the line. Secondly the ring leaders who led the agitation and attack on railway bogies should be identified apprehended and cases framed against them under law. This should work as deterrent so that in future nobody dares to play tricks with the rail authorities.
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