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73 people killed in eight bomb blasts on Railways last year

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) Seventy-three people were killed in eight incidents of bomb blast on Indian Railways last year though a year earlier 195 people perished in four such incidents, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said during the last two years, Railways had suffered more terror attacks as compared to 2005, when there was a single incident of blast that claimed nine lives.

Listing out measures taken by the Railways to strengthen and modernise security arrangements, Mr Velu said 96 stations and an equal number of trains had been identified as model stations where crime position is monitored by the Security Directorate at the Railway Board.

Four flying squads, headed by officers of the rank of DIG, have been constituted for surprise checking of various trains and stations, which submit report directly to the Director General, Railway Protection Force (RPF).

Mr Velu said Expression of Interest (EoI) had been invited to develop 'Integrated Security System' over a hundred stations on outright purchase basis or through PPP on BOOT (Build, Own, Operate and Transfer) basis.

He said videography of passengers in general compartments was being done by the RPF at important originating stations. Intensive drives had also been launched through pamphlets, skits and public announcements to sensitise passengers about the modus operandi of criminals, especially terrorists and druggists, who loot passengers by offering them spiked food.

Modern security gadgets like CCTVs, bomb detection and disposal equipment, bullet-proof jackets and helmets, walkie-talkies, hand held metal detectors and door frame metal detectors are being provided to the Force personnel.

Further, dog squads have been strengthened by providing 182 sniffer and 54 tracker dogs to the RPF. Also, 1450 important passenger trains are being escorted by the RPF personnel.

'RPF Mitra Yojna', a community policing concept, had been launched to strengthen the contact and information network between the Force and passengers.

Mr Velu said recruitment for filling up the 5937 vacancies of constables in the RPF and the Railway Police Special Force (RPSF) had already been completed on all Railways, except on the Northern Railway.

The recruitment for filling up 993 vacancies of Sub-Inspectors in RPF and RPSF is in the final stage of completion. As regards, filling up the 599 vacancies in the ancillary cadre of these two RPF/RPSF, he said, notification was issued in March this year.

UNI SKS HS HS1539

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