Railway Minister Suspends 4 Officials After Dirty Coaches Allotted To BSF Personnel

Following a complaint from Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, who were going to Jammu and Kashmir from Tripura for Amarnath Yatra duty through train, about dirty coaches, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took decisive action by suspending four railway officials and initiating a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

Images of the dirty train went viral on social media, sparking public outrage and intense criticism.

Later, the Railway Ministry issued a statement stressing the non-negotiable nature of the dignity and honour of India's security forces.

Railway Minister's Response

The Railway Ministry has arranged a new train for BSF troops departing from Udaipur station in Agartala at 9 pm on Wednesday. The minister's press note stated, "The dignity of the security forces is paramount and such negligence will not be tolerated at any level." An inquiry has been ordered to prevent future occurrences.

Three senior section engineers and a coaching depot officer from Alipurduar Rail Division have been suspended. The ministry also ensured that a special train with all necessary facilities was organised for the comfortable movement of security personnel.

BSF Troops Highlight Train Issues

Approximately 1,200 BSF troops from 13 companies were scheduled to board a special train on June 6 for Jammu Tawi from Udaipur in Tripura. The train was supposed to make several stops to collect troops from locations in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal.

Officials mentioned that when the train was made available on June 9, its "poor and unhygienic" condition prompted jawans inspecting a coach to record videos. These troops are part of additional central forces deployed by the Union government for the annual Amarnath Yatra starting July 3 in Jammu and Kashmir.

Amarnath Yatra Security Arrangements

The Amarnath Yatra is set to last for 38 days, concluding on August 9. The Centre has ordered deploying 581 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), comprising about 42,000 personnel, for conducting the yatra. Special security measures are being implemented due to past threats by terror outfits.