New Delhi: Alarmed over the recurring
incidents of dacoity in passenger trains, Railways today said
they were planning to depute "big-size" joint armed escort
party in trains passing through the affected routes.
"We are contemplating to have a big-size escort party
comprising more than 25 armed personnel from both GRP and RPF
to stop recurrence of loots in trains in the affected areas,"
a railway official said.
His reaction came in the backdrop of two incidents of
dacoities in passenger trains within 48 hours in Bihar.
Around six passengers of Howrah-Amritsar Express were
injured yesterday as armed robbers assaulted them and looted
cash and valuables worth about Rs 1.5 lakh near Simultala
railway station in Bihar`s Jamui district.
The incident came barely 48 hours after dacoits assaulted
and looted passengers of 3111 up Sealdah-New Delhi Lal Quila
Express in Lakhisarai district, injuring 21 people including a
GRP personnel.
According to a Railway source, DG RPG Ranjit Sinha today
discussed the situation with DG Bihar and impressed upon him
the need to step up security in stretches where there are high
incidents of loot.
The Bihar police is also believed to have held
coordination meeting with the local RPF today to devise
strategy to stop recurrence of such incidents.
The source said Chairman Railway Board is also expected
to write a letter to the Bihar government expressing the
railway`s concern and urging it to improve security in the
affected routes.
The source said apart from the incidents of dacoity,
there has also been a spurt in cases of drugging in West
Bengal and Jharkhand.
PTI
