Almost 80 percent young children are involved in the act of throwing stones at trains. Though the children are caught, in most cases, they are released after a written statement from the guardians.
Many passengers become injured due to stone throwing and in some cases, the injury is severe.
In the country’s west and east, 25-30 stone throwing incidents occur every month. Many episodes are not even reported.
Bangladesh Railway claims that they are regularly carrying out awareness building activities. On Sunday last, a five year old boy named Zeeshan was critically injured on a Rajshahi bound train.
Zeeshan is admitted to the hospital now.
In the last one month, there have been 17 such incidents in westbound trains. There may be more incidents because only the ones where someone has been hurt are recorded.
GM of railways (western section), Shahidul Islam, said: “We are getting 20-25 such incidents every month with 700-800 incidents every year; we are concerned because most of the victims are children.”
“Last year, one of our officials died after being hit by a stone.”
The country has 2900 km of rail lines and trains running through 20 districts are facing the most stone throwing incidents.
“Most who engage in such abominable acts are young and we asked many but they could not give any reason for such aberrant behavior,” said GM of the western section.
Police superintendent of the western section, Siddiqui Tanzilur Rahman, said: “Most of those involved are young and they do not realise the terrible implication of their deed.”
Railway police officials say that most children who throw stones are allowed to let go after questioning with a written statement taken from the guardians.
While working in a train bound for Benapole, inspector Bayezid Sikder, was hit by a stone and died.
In that incident, the GRP police have submitted a charge sheet. Acting OC of GRP police Khulna, Osman Gani Pathan, said: “We gave a charge sheet long ago and the case is ongoing.”
The existing law states that anyone convicted of throwing stones at a train will be fined Tk 10,000 and handed life sentence. If someone dies then there is the provision for death penalty.
GM of railway east, Faruk Ahmed, said: “We have increased police patrol in identified areas and local teachers and mowlanas are carrying out campaigns to raise awareness against this menace.”