Govt denies dereliction of duty by RPF during Mumbai blasts

New Delhi, Dec 15 (UNI) Dismissing allegations of dereliction of duty on the part of Railway Protection Force during the recent serial train blasts in Mumbai, the government today said it was incorrect to say that the RPF personnel offered no help to the victims or fled from the scenes of blasts.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said seven powerful bombs went off in Ist Class compartments of various EMU (Electrical Multiple Units) trains in Mumbai suburban services on July 11.

''It is not a fact that the RPF fled from the scenes of the blasts. On the contrary, on receipt of the information, the RPF staff immediately attended blast victims sites and started relief and rescue works on a war footing with the help of Railway Administration, State Administration, police and local public,'' Mr Velu said.

Senior Railway officers, including RPF personnel, disaster management teams and security agencies reached the site and were actively involved in rescue operation along with local people and passengers, he added.

Replying to another query, Mr Velu said compensation was paid only after a decree was awarded on a claim in the Railway Claims Tribunal by the victims or by dependents of the deceased passengers.

He said till November 23, 272 compensation claims had been filed but no decree had yet been awarded. However, the Railways had distributed Rs. 12.26 crore as ex-gratia relief to the next of kin of the deceased and injured people.

Following the serial blasts, he said additional companies of RPF and Railway Protection Special Force have been deployed in Mumbai.

Close Circuit Televisions (CCTVs) at important and sensitive railway stations of Mumbai (Western and Central Railways) have been installed to keep surveillance on suspicious elements in railway premises.

Additional sniffer dogs have been provided in Mumbai (Western and Central Railway) to conduct anti-sabotage checking at railway stations. Hand-held metal detectors have also been provided to the RPF and the Railway Protection Special Force staff for conducting intensive checking at railway stations in Mumbai.

Mr Velu said two committees, headed by Divisional Railway Manager, Western Railway, Mumbai and Divisional Railway Manager, Central Railway, Mumbai and comprising elements from police, Government Railway Police, RPF, CISF and IB, had been constituted to prepare a joint action plan for future in this regard.

UNI/SKS VD RK1955