Centre takes steps to strengthen security in trains, Metro, Courts

New Delhi, Feb 20 (UNI) In view of the blasts in Samjhauta Express on late Sunday night, the government is taking steps to strengthen security in trains and buses, especially those going to Pakistan, Delhi Metro and in and around courts.

Home Secretary V K Duggal told reporters here that though security in all the trains in the country is being strengthened, special focus is being given to the Munabao-Khokhrajhar train service between India and Pakistan and two bus services between Delhi-Lahore and Srinagar-Muzaffarabad.

Mr Duggal, who had a meeting with Director General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir this evening, said that the state government has been directed to beef up the security in view of the increased threat perceptions.

''Moreover, with Kashmir there are always a few issues,'' he said but declined to comment on whether the involvement of various Kashmiri militant groups in the Panipat blast was dicussed or not.

Stating that the investigations in the Samjhauta Express blasts, which claimed 67 lives, was going on in full swing with the Haryana police issuing sketches of suspects, he refused to give the details of involvement of terrorist organisation responsible for the train explosion.

Adopting a cautious attitude with the report of a blast outside a court in Pakistan which claimed scores of people, the government is also considering improving security in and around courts, he said.

The Home Secretary, who has met the Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and Chairman of the Railway Board, said that the Home Ministry has emphasised with the railway ministry to strengthen the security system on the railway stations by installing CCTVs, putting sniffer dogs and having more security forces on trains. He suggested that the railways could follow the air services who have air marshals on board the planes following terror threats.

Pointing out that maintaining security in transport systems like trains which have definite timings and originating points and destination was difficult and they would always remain a soft target of terrorists trying to disrupt peace, Mr Duggal said that providing security to people was the prime concern.

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