Mumbai: RPF calls to say sorry after ignoring calls from an alert citizen

Swati Sharma spotted this bag lying unattended in the coach and tried to alert the authorities

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) woke up to its folly two days after they practically made a joke out of an alert citizen's call for caution regarding an unattended bag in the local train. On Friday, after mid-day reported on the incident, RPF cops called Lokhandwala resident Swati Sharma to apologise.

"I was surprised to receive the call," said Sharma, adding, "I was asked to recollect all the details and the officer kept asking about whatever happened yesterday [Thursday], so I first reminded him that the incident had occurred the day before. He was very nice to me, while at the same time, very polite and apologetic."

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Sharma had boarded a Churchgate-bound local at 7.40 pm on Wednesday and called the railway security helpline after spotting an unattended bag in her compartment. Six unanswered calls and two frustrating conversations later, an RPF officer finally approached her at Churchgate station - after the train left, with the bag still in the compartment. But all he asked was if she'd liked their 'customer service'.

The official on the phone told Sharma that they were looking into the matter and the only reason they had asked her questions was 'because it is protocol.' "So, I reminded him that the train left the station without being checked, while I was being asked questions. He accepted it was wrong on their part and that inquiries are to be done."

"They still didn't have the answer to what was in that bag though," she said.

Don't lose faith
Sharma added, "The solution to this is people being more vigilant and not putting their lives completely in the hands of these authorities. It took a front-page news report for me to receive the call from them."

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"Rectifying mistakes is the priority though. I accepted the apology because they accepted there were loopholes, which they have promised they will look into. I hope I get to know some day what happened of my complaint, and, lastly, I hope no one loses faith in the system like I did."

When mid-day called the same number that Sharma had received a call from, the RPF official on the other end confirmed that he had spoken to Swati in the morning. "Inquiry into the incident is on," he said.