CISF to ensure metro security

Kolkata, Jul 26(UNI) Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has assured West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to send adequate Central Industrial Force(CISF) jawans to strengthen security in Kolkata metro railway system following the Mumbai blasts.

''I have talked to Mr.Patil over phone three or four days ago requesting him for deployment of CISF jawans for metro. He has given me assurance and asked me to send a detailed proposal in this regard,'' Mr Bhattacharjee told reporters today.

He said metro was the busiest system for public transportation in the city, particularly in the peak hours and it needed a special vigil for protection of lives and property.

The Chief Minister's move came in the wake of the serial blasts in Mumbai local trains which killed more than 200 people.

Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb, however, said the state Government had been requsting the centre for about a year, but there had been no response so far.

Yesterday the Union Home Minister had announced in the Lok Sabha that CISF would be entrusted with ensuring Kolkata metro's security.

Mr.Patil also said he had talks with the West Bengal Chief Minister over the issue.

At present the responsibility for ensuring security along the 16-km stretch of the country's first underground railway system lies with Kolkata police.

Meanwhile, a high-level meeting of railway officials was held in the city during the day to oversee the present security system in the suburban railway system of the Eastern Railway.

UNI KDG PL RP PM1902