3 'Escort Party' RPF personnel killed in blasts

Diwana, Panipat, Feb 19 (UNI) Three of the six Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawans deployed on the Delhi-Attari Samjhauta Express were killed in the blasts which claimed 66 lives.

Three of the six RPF men, comprising the 'Escort Party', were taking 'rounds' and were in the two bogies which were burnt in the blasts, said a senior Railway official quoting the injured jawan.

''While the fourth jawan, who has been admitted with 80 per cent burn injuries, was also present in the 4th last bogie, the other two were 'patrolling' in the front bogies when the blasts took place.'' Among those killed were Assistant Sub-Inspector Kashmira Singh, Head Constable Swarn Singh and Constable Rajendra Pal, All India RPF Association general secretary U S Jha said.

''Constable Tarsem Singh had been admitted to the Safdarjung Hospital with 80 per cent burn injuries.'' Meanwhile, among the various security forces that reached the 'spot' included Indo-Tibetan Border Police of the 6th Battalion Panchkula, the RPF, Haryana Police and the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF).

UNI