Mah govt announces Rs 25 lakh for info about blasts culprits

Mumbai, Jul 12 (UNI) Maharashtra Government today announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh to who so ever provides vital clues to the investigators leading to the arrest of the perpetrators of the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.

Replying to a debate on the adjournment motion in the Legislative assembly, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) which is probing the case has formed 16 teams to investigate the seven cases filed in this serial blasts The culprits will not be spared, he said.

Mr Patil said 65 lakh commuters travel on the suburban train network which is manned by the Railway police force comprising about 3400 personnel. ''I discussed the paucity of railway police with the Railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav last night and he too positively responded to the demand to increase the number of railway police personnel'', Mr Patil informed.

It has been decided that commuters on the suburban train stations will be randomly checked by metal detectors and hand metal detectors. The manpower to be used will belong to the Maharashtra government, he added.

''We will ask the centre to either adequately equip the Railway police force or make required amendments in the existing laws to hand over the security of the railways to Maharashtra government'', he added.

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