The torching of a train in Bihar has once again shown how trains have become sitting ducks for mob fury. For, the Railways can do little — and the government usually gives in acknowledging “public sentiment.”

As it did today after a 400-strong mob, protesting against the East Central Railways move to discontinue the New Delhi-Rajgir Shramjivi Express’s stop at Khusrupur station in Danapur Divison, set ablaze six passenger coaches on two trains, the Danapur-Jainagar Intercity Express and the Rajgir-Danapur passenger, and ransacked the station. Hardly had the smoke cleared when the Railways rolled back the order, restored the stop and ruled out any action against the attackers.

While today’s incidents were prompted by an issue directly relating to the Railways — that of discontinuing 33 “temporary” stops across ECR — setting a train on fire or damaging Railway property has become a quick way to gain attention whatever the “cause.”

“When you target Railways, you disrupt services for several hours and then the Government listens,” said a senior Railway official. “It’s also most vulnerable since there are always stretches where you can’t guarantee security.”

The Railways usually plays the victim saying law and order is a state subject. Its short-staffed Railways Protection Force (RPF), whose mandate is to protect Railway property, often finds itself struggling to contain mob fury. In fact, there have been instances where the RPF — unless its men were escorting a train — was the last security force to reach the spot of an incident of mob fury.

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