Help law enforcers catch miscreants: railways minister

Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan yesterday asked law enforcers to take strong punitive action against those throwing stones or brick chips at running trains, causing injuries to and even deaths of passengers.

Expressing deep concern, the minister also called for raising public awareness to prevent such incidents, according to a press release from the ministry.

The minister made the call following recent media reports.

“Trains are public property. They are known as a comfortable, sustainable and safe mode of transport. But lately, some miscreants have made this safe mode of transport unsafe by throwing brick chips at running trains,” the press release said.

Some train passengers sustained injuries or even died from brick chunks thrown at running trains by the miscreants, it added.

Recently, a train carrying Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury -- travelling to the northern part of the country -- came under such attack. Although she was unhurt, the incident created panic among passengers.

Apart from that, four-year-old Jisan received head injuries when miscreants threw stones at Padma Express on Sunday. The child is now in hospital.

train ticket checker Shikder Bayezid and engineer Preeti Das succumbed to their injuries caused by stone-throwing earlier.

Terming throwing brick chips or stones at trains “a serious offence”, the minister called upon people, living near rail lines, to remain alert and assist law enforcers in catching the miscreants.