5 Yr Jail for Pelting Stones on Vande Bharat Trains: Warns Railways

New Delhi: The South Central Railway (SCR) on Tuesday appealed to the public to stop anti-social activities like stone pelting on Vande Bharat trains or else the offenders will have to face five years in jail.

Several instances of stone-pelting on Vande Bharat trains were reported recently from various places in Telangana. Kazipet, Khammam, Kazipet-Bhongir and Eluru-Rajahmundry were most vulnerable points for stone pelting, a press release from SCR said. Since January this year nine incidents of stone pelting on Vande Bharat trains have been reported.

Ever since its inaugural run in February 2019, the Vande Bharat Express has been attacked in Telangana, Bihar, UP, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Stone-pelting on trains is a criminal offence. Legal action can be taken against the perpetrators under Section 153 of the Railways Act, which is punishable with imprisonment which may extend up to 5 years, SCR said in a press release.

So far, 39 offenders have been arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) after several cases were registered.