Pelting of stones at running trains

Train journey in Bangladesh is popular. It is also the safest way to commute. But regular incident of throwing or pelting stones at moving trains becomes a matter of concern. At some spots, it turns very dangerous making the passengers unsafe. Many passengers were injured from stone pelting. Some of them were fatally injured. Even a number of locomotive operators got injured in different incidents. More than a 100 people have sustained injuries and some 12 people have died due to injuries last year. Despite being a punishable offence, little has been done in this connection.

Railway officials argued that it is not possible to patrol near the rail-lines regularly. Instead, educating people, especially children and youth, would be the best way to reduce stone pelting. The awareness building campaign is also limited. Moreover, criminals like drug peddlers and snatchers sometimes instigate minors to pelt stones as a game. Even in some cases, bus operators support stone pelting at local commuter trains. Again AC trains also become a target of culprits. The police and railway authorities should take necessary steps to prevent this crime.

Mohammad Abu Hanif

Department of Sociology

Chittagong College

[email protected]