RPF gets police powers under NDPS Act to crackdown on drug network

With an aim to put a check on drug trafficking through national transporter, Central Government has empowered Railway Protection Force (RPF) with police powers to take stringent action under Narcotic and Psychotropic Substance Act 1985. Union Government has published a Gazette notification on Thursday stating that RPF can now exercise powers conferred by sub-section (1) of sec. 42 and 67 of NDPS Act (61 of 1985), that related to arrest and subsequent prosecution of accused persons. The purpose of notifying powers to RPF is to crackdown on smuggling of drugs through running trains and use of stations premises to push the banned substances in the country. This way RPF can now investigate and took the matter to logical conclusion in the court. The notification said now officers of the RPF, of the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector and above, can exercise the powers and perform the duties specified under section 42 within the areas of their respective jurisdiction and also authorised the said officers to exercise the powers conferred upon them under section 67.” Power of the section 42 were already vested with central agencies including Central Excise, Narcotics, Customs, Revenue Intelligence. Now RPF has also been brought at par with these central agencies. The act empowers the agencies to enter any premises carry out search, seizure and put the culprits under arrest. This way the dependence on civilian police of RPF would end and ensure faster action. Drug trafficking in railways and railways station premises is a cause of major concern for officials of the Indian railways. Sources informed that many a times railway passengers were arrested with the drugs. However, the power of investigation and registration of offence was vested with the Government Railway Police (GRP). So RPF used to hand over drug-peddlers to GRP which is gross under staffed and low on morale. GRP officials were not interested in the any kind of pro-active work in Nagpur and at many places it severely lacks manpower and necessary resources. There is also a lack of co-ordination between the GRP and RPF. A RPF official informed that the GRP officials used to keep RPF officials in waiting when they handed-over any accused to former. “The new Gazette notification will empower RPF to launch active drives against drug traffickers,” the RPF officer said.