The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Mumbai has been painted into a corner by graffiti vandals. It has been on the lookout for some 30 gangs that have been defacing railway property with graffiti for over a year now
Graffiti at the wagon shed at Andheri station, that finally allowed the RPF to nab 3 youths
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The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Mumbai has been painted into a corner by graffiti vandals. It has been on the lookout for some 30 gangs that have been defacing railway property with graffiti for over a year now.
It had a breakthrough some three weeks ago with the arrest of three college-going vandals, who called themselves artists.
Vandals have targeted the Bhayandar creek bridge and trains
The gangs have been striking under the cover of darkness at points where there are no CCTV cameras, like protection walls at stations, gates of yards, railway bridges and on trains. They go to such lengths to execute their work that they are even willing to risk their lives for it. Some of the graffiti has been found near railway tracks, or at perilous points on bridges. Once such audacious gang targeted the bridge on Bhayander creek.
Vandalising railway property is a punishable offence under the Railway Property Act.
Sources said once through with their graffiti, these vandals earn bragging rights amongst their gangs, by posting videos and photographs, without revealing their identities, of their works on social media.
Breakthrough
In the absence of concrete leads on the identities, the RPF had little to go on, until three weeks ago. It arrested three college students who were spraying graffiti on a gate of an overhead equipment wagon shed at Andheri station at the time.
Three patrolling RPF constables were drawn to the spot that night by the hissing sounds of aerosol sprays. They found three youths furiously spraying graffiti on the wall. Initially, the RPF personnel assumed that they were spraying a warning message against defacement/trespassing — as is the practice in the railways — but on questioning them, they realised that they finally got hold of members of the elusive vandal gangs.
The youths revealed that they were college students who doubled as graffiti artists, and wanted to use public spaces to practise their art. They felt that the railway’s large properties were up for the taking, and claimed that they meant no harm or mischief.
Some of the more daring ones have risked their lives. Others stick to defacing walls and railway sheds
The RPF registered a case under sections 145(B) (nuisance or act of indecency) and 166(B) (obliterating or altering any letters or figures upon any such board or document or upon any rolling stock) of the Railway Property Act and released them later on a bail of R1,000.
An RPF source said the Bhayandar creek is under the charge of the State Reserve Police Force and any breach of security there is a cause for alarm.
Anand Jha, senior divisional commissioner, RPF, said the youths arrested were counselled and let off on a bail. “We are on the lookout for other gangs."
The RPF is now planning to ask for help on social media to track down these vandals.
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