Railways to continue services in Naxal-hit areas

New Delhi, Aug 3: The Government has no plan to discontinue running of trains through Naxalite affected areas, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said that trains will be run in the Naxalite affected areas unless and until the traffic is disrupted by naxalites.

Mr Velu said policing being a State subject, prevention of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law and order in the Railway premises as well as on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the State police. The State Police have a seperate wing called the Government Railway Police (GRP) for dealing with all matters relating to Law and order in Railways and as such, the Ministry has to depend on them for controlling crime.

Railways have taken several measures through the Railway Protection Force (RPF) for protection of Railway Properties, particularly in vulnerable regions prone to terrorist/naxalite attacks. These includes deploying additional RPF and Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) personnel for protecting the Railway property which would enhance the security of affected Railway stations, trains and other vital installation and protect railway passengers against terrorist and naxalite attacks.

Apart from these measures close liaison with Civil Police and Intelligence Authorities and surveillance at some Railway Stations though Close Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) are also being done, Mr Velu said.

UNI