EASTERN RAILWAY’S RPF CRACKED DOWN TOUTING NETWORK
Kolkata, December 24, 2023:
Eastern Railway continuing its endeavour to curb touting activities to protect the interest of bona fide passengers. In a major crackdown on touting activities, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Eastern Railway’s Sealdah Division apprehended three individuals for engaging in the unauthorized sale of railway reservation tickets. The crackdown operation against touting of tickets took place near Hareknagar, Beldanga, Mondalpara, Begunpara of Murshidabad District and in a shop near Badamtala More Kolkata-96, identified as a hotspot for touting activities.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of RPF personnel laid a trap and apprehended the touts red-handed while they were attempting to sell confirmed railway reservation tickets to passengers. During the raid, the RPF of Sealdah Division recovered a total of 16 railway reservation tickets, cash amounting to Rs. 29,743, and 58 unused old tickets valued at Rs. 67,608 indicating their involvement in illegal ticket booking.
The apprehended touts have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Railways Act, 1989, for illegal touting and unauthorized possession of railway tickets. Further investigations are underway to determine the extent of their involvement and potential connections to larger ticketing rackets.
Touting activities not only cause inconvenience to passengers but also deprive genuine travellers of confirmed tickets. Eastern Railway’s RPF is committed to taking strict action against touts and ensuring a smooth and hassle-free travel experience for the passengers.
This swift and successful operation against touting was led by Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (Sr. DSC)/ Sealdah Division Sri Manoj Kumar under the guidance of Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sealdah, Sri Deepak Nigam, marking a significant blow to touting operations within the division.
Divisional Railway Manager / Sealdah, Sri Deepak Nigam appeals to all passengers to be vigilant against touts and refrain from purchasing tickets from unauthorized sources.
Shri Kausik Mitra, CPRO / Eastern Railway said that touting of tickets is a social evil that not only deprives intending passengers of getting confirmed accommodation but at the same time, people who are purchasing tickets from touts are facing trouble making journeys with such tickets. Passengers should not fall prey to touts and purchase tickets only through Railway Booking Counters or the IRCTC Website personally to avoid unnecessary harassment during the journey.
