Govt formulate strategy to prevent naxal attacks on trains

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) The Centre has formulated a four pronged strategy involving better coordination and intelligence sharing to deal with incidents like naxals hijacking a train in Jharkhand and attacking railway properties.

Expressing concern over this new dimension of naxal attack, Home Secretary V K Duggal told reporters that he had held a high level meeting with the Railway Board Chairman, Director General of Police of Jharkhand and state chief secretary and other senior officials and formulated a four pronged strategy to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Railway Protection Force (RPF) would be strengthened and more modernised, he said. Intelligence sharing between the Centre, state government, RPF and GRP would be increased. Regular meetings would be held between RPF, GRP and State police force would be held and state government would be asked to provide competent and good grade police personnel for GRP, Mr Duggal added.

Moreover, since GRP personnel are not trained in handling such incidents, they would be trained at the Defence Academy or at institutes where CRPF, BSF and other personnel receive training, he said.

Through better coordination and action there would be effective mechanism to fight such naxal attacks in future, he noted.

The Jharkhand Chief Secretary and DGP are confident that they will not allow such incidents to happen again in the state, he informed.

UNI AJ/SH MA DB2000