By The railway police and other security agencies in Kerala are working very hard to stop illegal drugs. They are checking trains and stations much more often now. This is happening because the state is getting ready for the upcoming Assembly elections. When elections are near, the government asks police to be more careful. They want to make sure that no illegal items or money are used to influence the voters. This is why you will see more officers at the platforms and inside the train coaches lately.
Recent reports show that the Indian Railways is still a common way for people to try and smuggle drugs. Between the start of January and the first week of March, security agencies caught a lot of illegal substances. In the Thiruvananthapuram division alone, the police have seized drugs worth nearly 1.5 crore rupees so far this year. This is a very large amount. Most of the drugs being caught are ganja. Officers also found hashish and other banned items like tobacco and illegal liquor.
The numbers show that the police are becoming more successful at finding these hidden items. In January, they caught about 29 kilograms of ganja. In February, that number jumped to over 145 kilograms. In just the first week of March, they have already caught more than 31 kilograms. This spike in numbers is because the Railway Protection Force, known as the RPF, received a special order from the Election Commission of India. They were told to strengthen their surveillance and watch everyone carefully.
Most of these illegal items were found on the route between Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Specifically, many cases were reported at the Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town stations. These are very busy places where thousands of people travel every day. The police often work together with the Government Railway Police and the Excise department to catch the criminals. Sometimes they even use special dogs that can smell drugs hidden inside bags.
The officials mentioned that many of the people caught carrying these drugs were migrant workers. The smugglers often use people who are traveling for work to carry small bags of drugs, hoping the police will not notice them. However, with the new high-tech scanners and more officers on duty, it is becoming very difficult for them to hide. The police are also looking for other things like large amounts of cash or expensive gifts that might be used during the election time.
Besides drugs, the officers have also taken away banned tobacco products and illegal alcohol worth lakhs of rupees. They want to keep the trains safe for families and regular passengers. When the police catch someone with drugs, they arrest them immediately and take them to court. This helps to send a strong message that breaking the law is not allowed.
For the common traveler, these extra checks might mean waiting a bit longer at the station or having their bags searched. However, the authorities say this is necessary for a safe and fair election. If you are traveling by train in Kerala soon, it is a good idea to reach the station a little early. Always cooperate with the officers if they ask to see your ID or check your luggage. Their goal is to keep the state peaceful and drug-free during this important time.
Railway Police and security agencies in Kerala have intensified checks at stations and trains ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Authorities have seized drugs worth nearly ₹1.5 crore in the Thiruvananthapuram division since January. Most cases involved ganja smuggling, particularly on routes between Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur. Increased surveillance by the Railway Protection Force and other agencies aims to prevent illegal activities and ensure safe travel during the election period.
