Additional police force has been deployed in all major railway stations to prevent crimes in view of anticipated extra rush of passengers due to Pongal festival.

“Though the crime rate has drastically come down in railway stations in Tamil Nadu, preventive measures are in place to prevent offences like theft of mobile phone, bags and chain snatching,” ADGP Railways Tamil Nadu C. Sylendra Babu told reporters here on Friday.

All major stations have been brought under 24×7 surveillance cameras and strict vigil is being maintained in all the stations in the State, he said.

Asked about incidents of molestation of women, there was some and rare incident previously. “Now everything is under control,” he said, adding that vigil also been kept to prevent accidental fall.

To a question on the progress in the case of the loot of Rs.5.7 crore from a Chennai bound train in Salem, Sylendra Baby said that it was being investigated by the CBI.

Earlier, inaugurating Air Rifle Academy and Shooting Centre at Nehru College of Aeronautics and Applied Science, he said that there was tremendous opportunity in shooting to win at International level, particularly Olympic medals.

India has won four Olympic medals in this discipline and students and general public can avail this facility, by which they can become National heroes and also win laurels for the nation, Sylendra Babu said.