(1)Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), if any person unlawfully,—(a)puts or throws upon or across any railway, any wood, stone or other matter or thing; or(b)takes up, removes, loosens or displaces any rail, sleeper or other matter or things belonging to any railway; or(c)turns, moves, unlocks or diverts any points or other machinery belonging to any railway; or(d)makes or shows, or hides or removes, any signal or light upon or near to any railway; or(e)does or causes to be done or attempts to do any other act or thing in relation to any railway,with intent or with knowledge that he is likely to endanger the safety of any person travelling on or being upon the railway, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years:Provided that in the absence of special and adequate reasons to the contrary to be mentioned in the judgment of the court, where a person is punishable with rigorous imprisonment, such imprisonment shall not be less than—(a)three years, in the case of a conviction for the first offence; and(b)seven years, in the case of conviction for the second or subsequent offence.
