Patna: The pursuit of a few seconds of attention on social media appears to have pushed some people into acts that could have had potentially fatal consequences. In a five-day special drive against stone-pelting on trains, the RPF and GRP arrested 100 people and detained 34 minors, with several of those arrested reportedly telling police that they had thrown bricks and stones at passing trains to make reels for social media.The arrests were made on the directions of ADG (Railways) Kamal Kishore Singh after the Bihar Police headquarters identified 12 districts as hotspots for train stone-pelting and directed the RPF and GRP to intensify action against those involved.The hotspots included Patna, Bhojpur, Samastipur, Begusarai, Bettiah, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Saran, Gaya, Vaishali and Nawada. Police said all those arrested in connection with the incidents were sent to jail.The crackdown came amid concerns over the growing number of cases of trains being targeted with stones. Apart from damaging railway property, the practice poses a serious threat to passengers, particularly those sitting near windows or standing in coaches, officials said.Those involved were booked under provisions relating to damage to public property and endangering the lives of railway passengers. Such offences could attract imprisonment ranging from three to seven years.A review by the police headquarters showed that newer and premium trains had been particularly vulnerable to stone-pelting. Vande Bharat Express, Tejas and Jan Shatabdi trains were targeted.“CCTV footage had emerged as a key tool in identifying the offenders. Around 68% of the suspects arrested during the drive were identified with the help of cameras installed on trains, including Vande Bharat services,” officials said.The police review also pointed to a disturbing pattern behind some of the incidents. During interrogation, several accused told police that they had thrown stones either to record videos for social media or simply for entertainment with friends.The motivation is significant because social-media research suggests that risky online behaviour can be driven by several overlapping factors, including the desire to stand out, gain popularity, attract attention and receive social rewards through likes, views and engagement. But what may appear to the person throwing a stone as a few seconds of fun or a stunt for a reel can have serious consequences for passengers who have no control over what happens outside their coach. A stone striking a window can injure or even kill a passenger, while repeated attacks can damage railway equipment and disrupt train operations, said an official.Police subsequently stepped up surveillance at identified stone-pelting locations. Alongside arrests, RPF and GRP personnel conducted awareness campaigns in the hotspot areas, particularly among minors and local residents, warning them about the risks to passengers and the legal consequences of throwing objects at trains.The use of CCTV has also become an important part of railway security. Railways has been expanding surveillance and it said CCTV footage can help identify offenders and initiate legal action.The police headquarters said the special campaign was aimed at curbing stone-pelting and preventing social-media content from turning into a threat to railway safety.
