'Bomb threat on Thar Exp part of security drill'

Jaisalmer, Apr 15: Security authorities today said the purported bomb threat on the Indo-Pakistan Thar Express was part of a security drill and there was no danger to the 400 people onboard the cross-border service.

BSF DIG S S Jodha said here it was a ''normal'' security drill. ''On receiving reports there was a bomb on board, the train was stopped at Munabao station, additional security personnel summoned and a thorough check of the passengers and the coaches undertaken,'' he said.

Finally it was established there was no bomb aboard the train on its way to Khokrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province, he added.

''It is part of a security drill and there is no bomb or explosive substance on board,'' Rajasthan police ASP BR Dahiya said.

The exercise was part of a security drill to test the reaction time of security forces to any suspected eventuality and based on a phone call informing about a bomb on board the train, he added.

The ASP said additional BSF personnel and senior officials had reached Munabao station to conduct checks on the train -- which arrived there eight hours late -- as part of the drill.

''This particular drill is termed the 'Monkey Drill','' he added.

In the border town of Jaisalmer, The train, on its way to Khokrapar in Sindh province of Pakistan, had 400 passengers onboard.

UNI