New Delhi: Amid reports of Maoists planning
to obstruct train movement during the two-day bandh call given
by them later this week, railways today said it was taking the
situation seriously and has kept `crack teams` on standby.
Maoists had called for a 48-hour `Bharat Bandh` from July
7 to protest against the killing of their senior politburo
member Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad at Adilabad in Andhra
Pradesh by the police last week.
According to railway spokesperson, pilot trains will run
during the day time also in Naxal-affected areas and all
trains will run in bunches.
Currently trains operations in five states - West Bengal,
Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa and Chhattisgarh - are affected due
to threat from Maoists.
Sources said the `crack teams` would comprise security
personnel and senior railway officials who would take
on-the-spot decisions in case of an eventuality.
Taking the fresh threat into account, RPF will also
issue specific advisory to all the zones to take necessary
precautions.
The spokesperson said if necessary, train services will
be regulated at certain places but the speed restriction of 65
km per hour will remain in force.
The suspension of night operation in Kharagpur Division
will continue till July 9.
In the worst-ever train accident caused by Maoists, 148
passengers were killed and several others injured on May 28 in
the Naxal-infested west Midnapore district in West Bengal.
PTI
