Rein in stone-throwers at running trains

It is worrying to note that incidents of throwing stones at running trains by mindless youngsters have increased dangerously on various routes of the West Zone. According to Bangladesh Railway (West Zone) authorities, at least 30 incidents of stone-throwing have occurred over the past one year, leaving one dead and 10 others injured. Recently, the railway authorities were shocked when two children were seriously injured by stone-throwing. This crime has posed a major challenge to the safety of one of the safest modes of transportation in the country.

On May 5, Zishan, a four-year-old boy who was travelling with his parents on Padma Express to Dhaka from Rajshahi, was critically injured as a sharp stone thrown at the train hit him on the head. He is now fighting for life at   Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). In another incident of stone pelting on the same night, 13-year-old Juthi was also injured. She is now undergoing treatment at the RMCH. In 2013, Priti Das, a young female engineer, died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital after being hit by a stone thrown by a hoodlum at the running train she was traveling by.  In the next year, a bank official lost one of his eyes as a stone thrown by a miscreant hit him.

Some youngsters, particularly those living in slums, get sadistic pleasure by hurling stones at the moving trains. They do it not only for perverted pleasure but for monetary gain as well. They target those train passengers who sit and hold mobile phones or other expensive gadgets in hand beside the window. Some children also throw stones at running trains for fun. Can it be imagined what will happen if the stone from a miscreant hits the driver of a speeding train? Won’t the disastrous act lead to deaths and maiming of scores of passengers?

Though the incidents of stone-pelting at running trains are rising the authorities concerned have failed to bring any of the criminals to justice. This is very unfortunate. It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to find out the miscreants and bring them to justice. Teachers, students, social leaders and imams of mosques may play their roles in building awareness among people to prevent such incidents.  

 

 

Rein in stone-throwers at running trains

It is worrying to note that incidents of throwing stones at running trains by mindless youngsters have increased dangerously on various routes of the West Zone. According to Bangladesh Railway (West Zone) authorities, at least 30 incidents of stone-throwing have occurred over the past one year, leaving one dead and 10 others injured. Recently, the railway authorities were shocked when two children were seriously injured by stone-throwing. This crime has posed a major challenge to the safety of one of the safest modes of transportation in the country. On May 5, Zishan, a four-year-old boy who was travelling with his parents on Padma Express to Dhaka from Rajshahi, was critically injured as a sharp stone thrown at the train hit him on the head. He is now fighting for life at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). In another incident of stone pelting on the same night, 13-year-old Juthi was also injured. She is now undergoing treatment at the RMCH. In 2013, Priti Das, a young female engineer, died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital after being hit by a stone thrown by a hoodlum at the running train she was traveling by. In the next year, a bank official lost one of his eyes as a stone thrown by a miscreant hit him. Some youngsters, particularly those living in slums, get sadistic pleasure by hurling stones at the moving trains. They do it not only for perverted pleasure but for monetary gain as well. They target those train passengers who sit and hold mobile phones or other expensive gadgets in hand beside the window. Some children also throw stones at running trains for fun. Can it be imagined what will happen if the stone from a miscreant hits the driver of a speeding train? Wont the disastrous act lead to deaths and maiming of scores of passengers? Though the incidents of stone-pelting at running trains are rising the authorities concerned have failed to bring any of the criminals to justice. This is very unfortunate. It is the responsibility of the law enforcement agencies to find out the miscreants and bring them to justice. Teachers, students, social leaders and imams of mosques may play their roles in building awareness among people to prevent such incidents.