Railway Protection Force

• A constable of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) allegedly shot and killed four people on board the Mumbai-bound 12956 Jaipur-Mumbai Superfast Express recently.

ABOUT RAILWAY PROTECTION FORCE

• The RPF is an armed force under the operational and administrative control of the Union Ministry of Railways, which is tasked with protecting and securing railway property, the passenger areas, and the passengers themselves.
• The RPF was set up as a consequence of The Railway Protection Force Act, 1957, enacted by Parliament.
• The Act came into force after Parliament passed significant modifications to it through The Railway Protection Force (Amendment) Act, 1985 (Act No. 60 of 1985). Rules under the Act were notified in 1987.
• The RPF is led by a director-general.

ABOUT GOVERNMENT RAILWAY POLICE (GRP)

• The GRP is a part of the district police force, reporting to the state government.
• It works alongside the RPF, and should, under ideal circumstances, complement and strengthen its operations.
• The Government Railway Police are responsible generally for the prevention and detection of crime on railways.
  • But their remit does not extend to protecting Railway property.
  • The protection of goods sheds, goods wagons at stations and parcel offices is not duty of the Railway Police, but of the Railway Protection Force.