Date:29/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/29/stories/2008102955541400.htm

National

Blasts-hit Railways to tone up security

K. Balchand

NEW DELHI: With trains and stations becoming soft targets of terrorists, naxalites and other disruptive forces, the Railways have drafted a multi-pronged programme to combat the menace.

According to railway officials, during the past four years 123 bomb blasts have been reported, leaving 304 people dead.

In 2005, nine people were killed in 20 blasts; the next year was a nightmare with 45 incidents, leaving 212 people dead. In 2007, the number of blasts was marginally lower at 38 and the death toll 75. During the first nine months of 2008, till September 20, the Railways were attacked with bombs on 20 occasions, and eight people lost their lives.

Apart from setting up a committee for preparing a composite security plan, the Railway Board has identified stations which are sensitive and vulnerable to acts of vandalism. It will fill vacancies in various ranks of its forces to combat the menace.

According to sources, the board is considering the proposals submitted by a committee comprising officers of the Railways, the Railway Protection Force, the Intelligence Bureau, the Central Industrial Security Force, the Delhi police and the Special Protection Group.

The board has accepted a proposal by a seven-member expert committee and decided to execute an integrated security system at 185 stations.

By the end of this financial year, all stations, including the suburban stations of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata will be fitted with CCTV systems, and will have electronic access control, a personal and baggage screening system and explosive detection and disposal systems. The other stations will be covered during 2009-10.

Vacancies

To tone up the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF), which supplements the efforts of the State governments in providing security to stations and trains, the board has decided to fill the vacancies in its various ranks.

The board has decided to fill head constable, assistant sub-inspector, SI and inspector vacancies by promoting the staff in the lower rank to higher rank on an ad hoc basis.

There were 51 posts of inspectors, 273 posts of SI, 268 posts of assistant SI and 1,233 posts of head constable vacant in the RPSF.

For the other vacant posts of artisan (37) and followers (256), direct recruitment will be made.