Samjhuata from Pakistan arrives at Attari

Attari, Feb 19 (UNI) The Samjhauta Express from Lahore arrived here late this evening amid tight security, with 523 passengers undeterred by the last night's terrorist strike.

ADGP Law and Order and Railways, Mr Chandra Shekhar today told UNI that special security measures were being taken for foolproof security aboard the Samjhauta Express in view of the blasts last night on the Delhi-Attari link train in which 67 people, many of them Pakistanis, lost their lives.

''Today instead of two, four armed BSF mounted riders escorted the train on the both sides on the last 2.5 km stretch from the zero point to Attari raiway station,'' Mr Chandrashekhar said.

The passengers, 300 of them Pakistani nationals, went through stringent customs and immigration clearance with thorough checking of their baggage. They were then escorted from platform no two to platform no three to board the train scheduled to leave for Delhi at about 2130hrs tonight.

''Hum Hindustan aur Pakistan to door karne ke unke napaak irade kamyab nahin hone denge,'' (We will not allow the unholy attempts to create distances between India and Pakistan) said Mohammaed Farid of Karachi, while others around him nodded in agreement.

They did not take offence to the stringent frisking and checking.

The Railways had called in Punjab police's anti-sabotage sqaud and sniffer dogs and special surveillance was kept through the CCTVs.

Most of the passengers were of the view that the vigil should not be lowered and be maintained at all the times.

''Had they kept up the vigil, this tragic incident would have been averted,'' Shaija of Lahore opined.

According to Mr Chandra Shekhar, the vacant train which has been sanitised after thorough check up, was brought from platform no four to platform no three, and was ready to leave.

''There will be short halts at Amritsar and Ambala Cantt for the Railway staff but no one else will be allowed to alight or board the train, '' the ADGP said.

Strict security measures have been taken by the Railway Protection Force in all the railway throughout the state of Punjab, Mr Chandra Shekhar said.

UNI