No takers for 40 percent bodies found on railway tracks in Andhra: Officials

On an average, GRP is recovering one dead body every three days in all the eight GRP sub-divisions in Andhra Pradesh.
Image for representational purpose only.
Image for representational purpose only.

VIJAYAWADA: Identification of bodies found on railway tracks has become a tough task for the Government Railway Police (GRP) in the State. On an average, the GRP is recovering one dead body every three days in all the eight GRP subdivisions in the State and 40 per cent of the bodies never get identified or claimed.

According to the GRP officials, they come across three categories of deaths - accidents, suicides and murders. In suicide and accident cases, the bodies are identified with the help of local residents, provided the deceased hails from local areas.

In some cases, murders are committed somewhere else and bodies dumped on railway tracks or the victims pushed off running trains, to make it look like an accident.

“Initially, we inform all the police stations to check for missing complaints and preserve the body until kin of the deceased identifies and claims it. If no inquiry is made, the last rites of unclaimed bodies are performed with the help of NGOs and voluntary organisations.

Usually, 40 per cent of the bodies recovered are not identified or claimed,” said a sub-inspector of GRP, Rajahmundry sub-division.

There are eight GRP subdivisions in the State. In 2016, the GRP personnel found 812 bodies on railway tracks and only 63 per cent of the bodies were identified. From January to March 31 this year, 257 bodies were found on the tracks and 38 per cent of the bodies were not identified.

Meanwhile, the suspected murder cases, which have been transferred to the respective Law & Order police stations are pending from long time due to shortage of man force.

“After receiving a call about the dead body, we launch an investigation into the nature of death - suicide or accident or murder. If the prima facie evidence is found, we transfer the cases to the respective Law & Order police for further investigation. In my sub-division, on an average, one body is being found every three days on the tracks,” said M Sattibabu, DSP, GRP, Vijayawada sub-division.

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