RPF Northeast Frontier Railway arrests 3, recovers stolen phones in safety drive
Synopsis
RPF teams across Northeast Frontier Railway arrested three individuals and recovered stolen mobile phones worth over ₹87,000 in coordinated operations aboard express trains and at stations in Assam and Bihar — a reminder that railway theft remains a persistent challenge even as enforcement steps up.
Key Takeaways
RPF of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) arrested 3 persons in separate anti-theft operations last week.
Two stolen mobile phones worth ₹30,000 recovered from an accused onboard the Purvottar Sampark Kranti Express by the Anti Drugging Squad, Guwahati .
RPF Post, Katihar (East) recovered a phone worth ₹32,000 at Katihar Railway Station, Bihar .
CIB team, Rangiya seized two phones worth ₹25,000 from a suspect on the New Tinsukia-Amritsar Express .
All accused handed over to respective Government Railway Police (GRP) units; cases registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) .
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) arrested three individuals and recovered multiple stolen mobile phones across separate operations conducted last week, officials announced on Sunday, 17 May. The crackdown, spanning stations in Assam and Bihar, underscores the force's sustained push to curb theft and protect passengers travelling through one of India's most expansive railway zones.
Key Operations and Arrests
NFR Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma confirmed that the first arrest was made by the Anti Drugging Squad in Guwahati, which apprehended one individual onboard the New Delhi-Guwahati Purvottar Sampark Kranti Express. The accused was allegedly involved in the theft of passengers' belongings, and two stolen mobile phones valued at approximately ₹30,000 were recovered from his possession.
In the second operation, personnel from the RPF Post at Katihar (East) nabbed one person at Katihar Railway Station in Bihar. A stolen mobile phone worth around ₹32,000 was recovered. The accused was handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP), Katihar, and a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered.
The third arrest was carried out by the Crime Intelligence Branch (CIB) team of Rangiya in Assam, which apprehended a suspect onboard the New Tinsukia-Amritsar Express at Rangiya Railway Station. Two stolen mobile phones worth around ₹25,000 were recovered, and the accused was handed over to the GRP, Rangiya for further legal proceedings.
What the RPF Said
CPRO Sharma stated that these operations 'underscored the vigilance and swift response of RPF personnel in ensuring the safety and security of passengers and their belongings.' He appealed to travellers to remain alert and promptly report any suspicious activity to railway authorities.
All three accused, along with the recovered items, were handed over to the respective GRP units, where cases under the BNS have been registered.
About Northeast Frontier Railway
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeastern states as well as seven districts of West Bengal and five districts of north Bihar. The zone covers vast and strategically sensitive terrain, making passenger security a persistent operational priority.
This is not an isolated effort — RPF units across NFR have been conducting regular anti-theft and anti-drugging operations as part of a broader mandate to maintain law and order aboard trains and at stations. With mobile phone theft remaining one of the most reported crimes on Indian Railways, targeted squad deployments have become a key enforcement tool.
What Happens Next
The three accused will face legal proceedings under the BNS before the appropriate courts. The NFR has indicated that such operations will continue across the zone, with RPF squads remaining deployed on high-traffic express trains and key junction stations.
Point of View
But they point to a structural problem: mobile phone theft on Indian Railways remains rampant enough to require dedicated Anti Drugging Squads and Crime Intelligence Branch teams on individual train routes. The NFR's geographic spread — spanning the Northeast, parts of West Bengal, and north Bihar — makes consistent enforcement difficult. What the press release does not address is recidivism or conviction rates, which are the real measure of deterrence. Arrests handed to GRP are only the first step; without tracking outcomes through the courts, the cycle of theft and apprehension risks becoming a performative loop rather than a genuine security improvement.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What operations did the RPF of Northeast Frontier Railway carry out?
The RPF conducted three separate anti-theft operations last week across Assam and Bihar, arresting three individuals and recovering stolen mobile phones worth over ₹87,000 in total. The operations were carried out by the Anti Drugging Squad in Guwahati, the RPF Post at Katihar, and the Crime Intelligence Branch team at Rangiya.
Where were the arrests made?
The arrests took place at three locations — onboard the New Delhi-Guwahati Purvottar Sampark Kranti Express, at Katihar Railway Station in Bihar, and onboard the New Tinsukia-Amritsar Express at Rangiya Railway Station in Assam.
What is the Northeast Frontier Railway and where does it operate?
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) is an Indian Railways zone headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati. It operates across the Northeastern states, seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of north Bihar.
Under which law were the accused charged?
Cases against all three accused were registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) by the respective Government Railway Police (GRP) units at Guwahati, Katihar, and Rangiya.
What should passengers do if they spot suspicious activity on a train?
According to NFR CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, passengers should stay alert and promptly report any suspicious activity to railway authorities. Travellers can approach on-duty RPF or GRP personnel onboard trains or at stations.
