The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Police reviewing security of railway networks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Police reviewing security of railway networks

G. Anand

Plan to form bomb detection and disposal squad

Thiruvananthapuram: The State police have embarked on a major exercise to review security of railway networks in Kerala following bomb explosions on suburban trains in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Separate entry at railway stations for commuters holding season tickets and restricting non- travelling public from accessing platforms are some of the measures being considered by the police, according to top officials involved in the "security audit."

Formation of an exclusive bomb detection and disposal squad for the railway police is under consideration. The squad will be given state-of-the-art equipment, including robots for safe disposal of bombs. The equipment will be purchased using police modernisation funds from foreign suppliers short-listed by the Intelligence Bureau.

A dog squad, trained in detecting RDX as well as conventional explosives, will be formed for the exclusive use of the Railway Police. The Railway police have proposed setting up of video surveillance networks in Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam Junction and Kozhikode stations.

Opening of railway police stations at Tirur and Kayamkulam is being considered. Efforts are under way to network computers of the railway police headquarters here with those of 13 railway police stations using the optic fibre net of the Railways. The railway police are to be equipped with disaster management equipment, such as metal cutting equipment, first-aid kits, stretchers and mobile power generators. The current strength of the railway police is 450, same as in 1989. The police are considering increasing the number by 350. A separate intelligence wing has also been proposed for the railway police.

A high-level committee, including Additional Director-General of Police (Operations) Rajan Madhekar and Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) Jacob Punnose is involved in the "security audit" along with the Inspector-General of Police, South Zone, Arun Kumar Sinha and Superintendent of Police, Railways, Vijay Sakhare.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala