Armed with the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act, the Government Railway Police (GRP) have cracked down on habitual offenders, some of whom have committed close to 50 felonies. Under the draconian law, an offender is detained and sent to prison immediately, and action is taken following a 61-day procedure, including 49 days of hearings before an advisory committee.

In the past seven months, the GRP has sent four criminals behind the bars for one year and the decision against a fifth offender, who was detained in mid-January, is pending. The railways were given the power to use the Act against those committing felonies on railway premises and trains after GRP Commissioner Ravindra Sengaonkar sought approval of the state home department, and got the go-ahead in June last year.