Govt to take steps to provide safety to passengers from Naxals

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Taking a serious note of the increasing Naxal attacks on trains and railway stations, the Centre has decided to improve coordination with state governments to provide security to passengers, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said today.

''Increasing attacks on railway infrastructure and disruption of train services are new trends that need to be taken note of for remedial action,'' Mr Patil said while addressing Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected states chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Briefing newspersons after the five-hour long meeting, the Home Minister said in view of the increasing incidents of Naxal attacks on moving trains, the Centre has decided to improve coordination between state government, railway police and state police. ''This is necessary as the railway police is only responsible for protection of railway property and the government wants to ensure the protection of passengers travelling in trains and railway stations which have now become the soft targets of Naxal attacks,'' Mr Patil said.

He said Home Secretary V K Duggal has already discussed the matter with railway officials and is planning to hold another round of talks soon.

''After that we will talk to the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and state government on the steps required to provide protection to passengers,'' he said.

The Centre is taking these steps in view of the recent attacks on railway stations and hijacking of trains in Naxal-affected Bihar and Jharkhand.

UNI AJ/SH HS KP1656