37 habitual fare evaders arrested through WhatsApp alerts

3 July 2025 04:31 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

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By Rekha Tharangani Fonseka – Moratuwa

Colombo, July 3 (Daily Mirror) - A total of Rs. 112,480 in fines was recovered after 37 habitual fare evaders were arrested during a special raid targeting passengers travelling without tickets.

The arrests were made based on alerts shared through WhatsApp groups.

Railway Security officers said the raids were carried out by officers in mufti after it was discovered that messages were being circulated via WhatsApp to warn passengers when officers in uniform were conducting ticket inspections. As soon as a group member spots an official, a message would be sent to alert others.

A team of 25 railway security officers was deployed at the Bambalapitiya railway station to conduct the special operation from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.

Railway officials said most of those caught without valid tickets were cleaning workers, although some individuals admitted to travelling without tickets simply for amusement.

They added that once alerted through the WhatsApp network, fare evaders used various tactics to avoid being fined. These included getting off the train and reboarding it, travelling without tickets on strike days, getting off at stations beyond their intended destination and leaving through alternate exits instead of the designated ones.

The Railway Protection Force also noted a significant increase in ticket sales at station counters in the days following the raid.

The operation was conducted on the instructions of Superintendent of the Railway Protection Force, Anura Premaratne and Assistant Superintendent G.W. Sumith, under the guidance of Assistant Superintendent (South) Kapila Kalubowila and the supervision of Officer-in-Charge (Mt. Lavinia) Nimal Gunaratne.

Comments - 6

Ok Thursday, 03 July 2025 04:39 PM

Not one time you keep doing this for a long time to get back all money stolen : We need to educate them first so that next generation wouldn’t do it

1 45

sumo Thursday, 03 July 2025 06:55 PM

2 officer to instruct 1 to guide 1 to superwise How many ticket inspectors? To cathch fare dodgers how many to change a light bulb in a carriage?

9 15

The fare evaders working together far exceed the cops Friday, 04 July 2025 08:25 AM

There are 25 fare evaders working together just on one train. Only those who support government revenue evasion like done by those deliberately riding without tickets would ever say anything as negative about the fair efforts for public good that the cops are up to. Anyhow, likely although 37 evaders were caught there might have been far more doing same, like sharing ticket. The fact there is lot more people buying tickets the next day shows how the social corruption is being brought under control, and the public will be better for it.

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Russel Harmmer Friday, 04 July 2025 07:54 AM

Yes, thanks to all Railway Officials successfully conducted this project. Please continue the same and completely stop this act of stealing the public property in the future. Special thanks to our President and the Govt. who encourages good mal practices.

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Gayan Friday, 04 July 2025 08:22 AM

Good start. Need to drastically increase the fine amount.

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Hadi Friday, 04 July 2025 09:20 AM

I believe there are thousands of Fare invaders daily travel in Trains .So as a warning to them, raids should be carried out in different locations at different times to stop

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