Railways may take a relook at firearms policy for RPF

MUMBAI: The carnage on the Jaipur-Mumbai superfast train that left four dead may force a rethink on the policy on equipping RPF personnel with firearms in such large numbers during train escort duty.

A total of four personnel were deployed in the train escort team and AK-47 rifles were allocated to two constables, including the accused, Chetan Singh who fired 12 rounds of bullets. Assistant sub-inspector Tikaram Meena, among the four victims, and constable Narendra Parmar were in possession of revolvers with 10 rounds of bullets each. A Government Railway Police (GRP) official said, “This incident has shaken the railways. They said they will examine the policy of allowing firearms in large numbers.”