Railway Protection Force (RPF) Director General (DG) Arun Kumar spoke to The Sunday Guardian post the Rail Roko protest by farmers’ groups. Excerpts:
Q: What have been the preparations and what arrangements have been done for the ‘Rail Roko’ by farmers?
A: We took cognisance of the entire situation and deployed extra personnel at locations we felt could become volatile. There are close to 20 RPF that have been deployed, we are also taking help from the state police and GRP.
Q: Which areas have you identified as potentially volatile?
A: The farmers group had called the ‘Rail Roko’ from 12 noon. There are other political parties involved who have started earlier in the day. Haryana, Punjab and areas of West UP were identified as places farmers are strong in numbers, but we have also gotten reports of political groups doing the same in West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra as well.
Q: Have other forces also been called in?
A: Of course, we are fully prepared. State police and other paramilitary forces, we are also in contact with. I am hopeful that everything will be fine.
Q: You have and are monitoring the entire situation, have you also taken lessons from what has happened during January 26?
A: We are fully alert, but haven’t gotten any input that the situation would get bad. I think because of what happened on January 26, the farmers will also be alert and not do anything out of turn.