Bhubaneswar, Aug. 8: The East Coast Railway will start an awareness drive at the main railway station here and its surrounding areas to put a curb on drug-and-loot cases.

The ECoR took the decision after its officials found that the goons were targeting victims after they get out of the train.

According to the plan, the ECoR would put visual displays, including banners, to prevent passengers from taking food or drink from strangers at the Bhubaneswar railway station or in its surrounding areas.

The ECoR will also intensify night patrolling on the various approach roads to the station, along with the road connecting the bus terminal at Master Canteen Square.

“A joint operation of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) has succeeded in curbing drug-and-loot incidents on the station premises in last one year. But during this time, we have come across several cases where passengers were being drugged and looted once they get out of the station. We will also seek the help of local police to check such incidents,” said chief public relations officer of East Coast Railway J.P. Mishra.

The GRP officials said that they would ask the medicine shop owners around the station area not to sell any psychotropic drugs, which are frequently used by the goons for the purpose of loot, without proper prescription.

The GRP arrested two persons for their involvement in a number of drug-and-loot cases on Tuesday. The accused were identified as Deba Behera, 32, and Prasant Sahu, 30.