601. Arms, ammunition, etc., conveyed by railway or steamer.
(a)It has been arranged with the railway authorities that when any consignment of arms, ammunition, military stores or explosives of any kind is received for despatch, the station-master of the despatching station shall telegraph to the receiving station-master, who should immediately advise the consignee to be prepared to take delivery and also inform the officer-in-charge of the local railway police-station, if there is any, of the arrival of the consignment. The consignment shall be weighed and checked by the station-master with the particulars given in the way-bill as well as with the licence in the presence of the officer-in-charge (where there is a local railway police-station) or any other officer deputed by him. If any discrepancy is found or suspected by the station-master or the outward condition of the parcel shows signs of having been tampered with, the station-master will withhold delivery and immediately inform the officer-in-charge of the nearest railway police-station, as well as that of the nearest district police-station if he is more readily available, and the consignment will be opened in the presence of the officer-in-charge who arrives first. A report by telegram should at the same time be sent by the station-master to the Superintendent of Railway Police.(b)Whenever the officer-in-charge of a police-station receives information of any discrepancy being found or suspected in any consignment of arms, ammunition, military stores or explosives, he shall at once proceed to the station concerned, check the contents of the consignment and start enquiry, if necessary.(c)If any consignment fails to reach the station of destination within a reasonable period from the date of booking, the station-master of the station to which such consignment is booked shall report the fact by telegram to the Superintendent of Railway Police and the officer-in-charge of the railway police-station and enquiries shall be made with all possible speed, by telegram, if necessary, to trace out the consignment.(d)The following rule shall be observed in respect of such consignments booked to (or from) any of the services of the India General Navigation Company Limited, and the River Steam Navigation Company, Limited :-On the arrival of the consignment the local agent or sub-agent of the company concerned shall send a special notice to the consignee immediately advising him to arrange with the police to take delivery. A copy of this advice shall, in every case, be sent to the officer-in-charge of the local police-station who shall come and check the consignment and allow delivery to be made, if it is found in order. Where there is no police-station within 3 miles of the steamer station, however, the consignment shall be checked by the steamer agent or sub-agent, and if any discrepancy is found or suspected he shall withhold delivery and immediately inform the officer-in-charge of the local police-station, or the railway police-station, if nearer.V - Accidents
