Senior IPS officer Surender Kumar Bhagat has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of Railways Protection Force (RPF). His appointment was approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC). He will serve the Railway Protection Force till the date of his superannuation that is on 30 June 2017.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) is a security force of India entrusted with protecting railway passengers, passenger area and railway property of the Indian Railways. The strength of RPF is about 65,000. It is under the authority of Ministry of Railways (India). RPF is headed by Director General(DG) who is usually an Indian Police Service officer.
The Mission of the Railway Protection Force include
- Protect and safeguard railway passengers, passenger area and railway property.
- Ensure the safety, security and boost the confidence of the traveling public in the Indian Railways
The origin of this force was ‘Watch & Ward‘ and functioned under the administrative control of railway administration. Later on this force was renamed as Railway Protection Force and its members were provided with the power of arrest without warrant for the unlawful possession of railway property.
