Train tickets worth Rs 87 lakh seized in Gujarat, 315 held

AHMEDABAD: As many as 5,547 train tickets, including e-tickets as well as journey-cum-reservation tickets worth Rs 87.55 lakh were seized and 315 persons were arrested in 298 cases during special drives conducted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of the Western Railway against the touts between July and September this year.
According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, during the same period last year, a total of 2,099 tickets, including e-tickets amounting around Rs 50.16 lakh were seized and 171 persons were arrested in 146 cases. Therefore, in comparison to the last year, the number of cases are more than double alongwith notable increase in number of arrested persons, number of seized tickets and value of e-tickets.
It was observed during special drives that touts were indulging in booking of e-Tickets through use of Real Mango software.
After getting the information of illegal booking of tickets by touts, special teams of dedicated staff from Detective Wing/ RPF Crime branch, Cyber Cell and divisions were formed and the special drives against such illegal activities were launched. It was found that illegal booking of tickets were made using several fake IDs, including some authorised IRCTC agents who use fake IDs, and illegal software like Real Mango, charging extra money from passengers.
Western Railway has urged customers to buy their journey tickets only from authorised sources.