Bokaro: Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel have stepped up their checks at Bokaro railway station and on trains to prevent thefts and curb smuggling of marijuana amid a surge in bookings and footfall for Chhath. Passengers have been urged to safeguard mobile phones, electronic gadgets and luggage, especially amid theft complaints on the route.Drive against smuggling has been launched following the seizure of 41kg of marijuana over the past eight months. Most of the recoveries were made on trains arriving from Odisha.Bokaro GRP officer-in-charge P K Tiwari said, “The marijuana seized so far was mostly recovered from trains coming from Odisha. Of the four cases registered, three recoveries were made from the Dhanbad-Alappuzha Express and one from the Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar Express. However, no arrests have been made in any of these cases.”Police suspect smugglers load marijuana consignments in Odisha and move them by train to different destinations. GRP teams have increased checks during the rush to spot suspicious luggage and intercept illegal consignments.Including ganja seizures, Bokaro GRP has registered 28 cases involving different offences this year, with theft having a significant share. Stolen items reported by passengers include trolley bags, mobile phones and tablets. No theft cases have been reported from Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains, while sleeper-class passengers account for most complaints.“Considering the pattern of thefts, we are appealing to passengers travelling during Chhath to remain alert and keep their belongings secure. They should avoid leaving valuables unattended, particularly while boarding, deboarding or sleeping,” Tiwari said.In the latest incident, GRP registered a theft case on Thursday involving the Hatia-Patliputra Express. Nutan Devi alleged her purse containing a gold locket and a silver coin was stolen. Tiwari said seven theft FIRs have been registered this year, of which two were solved.
