06 April,2011 06:54 AM IST | | Vedika Chaubey
Finding it difficult to go through every passenger's luggage, the RPF wants to train its members in reading body language and detecting suspicious behaviour
"Spot the suspects from their body language." This is the new skill that the RailwayProtection Force (RPF) wants its staff members to acquire.
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Finding it difficult to scan the luggage and person of each and every passenger, it aims to train personnel to detect suspicious behaviour on stations and trains.
Once trained, the RPF personnel will be placed at major railway stations like CST, Dadar, LTT, Thane and Kalyan, from where many long-distance trains depart
Initially, only about 15 personnel from the RPF will receive this training. If the venture is successful, more personnel will be trained. Once trained, the personnel will be placed at major railway stations like CST, Dadar, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT), Thane and Kalyan, from which many long-distance trains depart.
Mission Impossible
"We try to check each and every passenger's luggage, but this is often an impossible task. During rush hours, we have to permit entry to the passengers after simply glancing at their luggage," admitted an RPF guard stationed at the luggage scanner.
Monotony is also a factor. "Checking each individual's luggage tires our guards, and they end up doing it distractedly, causing them to miss many a suspect," accepted a senior official from RPF.
The installations of baggage scanners are a part of the Integrated Security System, which was designed after the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai.
The system focuses on five basic elements, including a video surveillance system, an access control system, person and baggage screening systems, bomb detection and disposal system, and system integration.
On Guard
The duties of the trained personnel will entail monitoring the behaviour of the passengers entering the railway stations. They will be plain-clothes police officers, so that they can vigilantly observe others, without being observed themselves.
Anil Sharma, chief security commissioner, RPF, CR, said, "Our personnel will be assigned the task of spotting passengers who exhibit suspicious behaviour. This will narrow down our search, helping us save time."
When asked about the efficacy of this method, he answered, "Just as passengers without tickets are easily detected by the ticket collectors, our personnel will distinguish suspicious characters from among the throng.
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The suspects only check their behaviour when they are in the view of uniformed policemen. But they are sure to let their guard down in their absence: this will be detected by our trained personnel in civil dress," explained Sharma.
"We had planned to install scanners in the suburban section as well, but dropped the idea as it seemed impractical to check the luggage of the innumerable passengers passing through the station," said a senior RPF official.
15
Number of RPF personnel that will be trained to detect suspicious behaviour on stations and trains
Welcome change
Passengers have welcomed the RPF's new initiative with relief. Says Geeta Sahay, a passenger from CST, "We are all in support of random checks. Otherwise, we have to go through the unnecessary hassle of having our luggage and persons checked every day. Hopefully this will speed up the checking process, while ensuring that suspects are nabbed."
