Mumbai Local Train Accident: FIR Sparks Fresh Tension Between RPF and GRP

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Mumbai: The long-standing jurisdictional tussle between the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) has resurfaced following a recent FIR in the Mumbra train accident case. While both forces have rarely faced a direct public clash, tensions often arise over investigations, responsibilities, and coordination.

On Thursday, friction escalated when the GRP filed an FIR against two railway engineers five months after the Mumbra accident, which claimed the lives of five passengers. While the internal railway investigation had attributed the deaths to a train route curve and passengers’ luggage, the GRP investigation pointed to negligence by the engineers, prompting legal action.

Protests and Chaos
The FIR sparked outrage among railway labor unions, leading to demonstrations on Wednesday. Senior PI Sambhaji Katare reported that two unions staged separate protests: the National Railway Workers Union (NRMU) protested outside the DRM office, and the Central Railway Workers Union (CRMS) gathered near the motorman’s cabin at the station. During the protest, some demonstrators allegedly locked the motorman’s cabin door, halting trains in both directions for nearly an hour and causing widespread disruption.

Tragically, during this chaos, several passengers attempted to cross the tracks near Sanders Road. Two passengers were fatally struck by a train traveling from CSMT to Ambernath. The GRP has launched a new investigation into this incident, and another FIR may be filed.

Reasons Behind the RPF–GRP Tension
Railway activist Sameer Jhaveri explains that the GRP is responsible for transporting injured or deceased passengers to hospitals, while CCTV footage used for criminal investigations falls under RPF control. Delays in obtaining footage from RPF often hinder GRP investigations. Additionally, RPF’s control center is based in Delhi, excluding GRP officers from policy decisions. GRP officers receive half their salary from the Railway Ministry and half from the state government, leading to concerns about inadequate oversight from both sides.

Historical Conflicts

• In 2011, RPF faced allegations of non-cooperation in a sexual harassment case in Mumbai.
• In 2014, conflicts arose between RPF and GRP over sharing CCTV footage in the case of the murder of 23-year-old software engineer Easter Anuhaya in Andhra Pradesh.
• In July 2024, clashes at Patori station in Bihar between the two forces caused panic among passengers.

This latest FIR underscores the persistent coordination challenges between RPF and GRP, raising questions about accountability and passenger safety on Mumbai’s busy railway network.