New Delhi: Not content with the
prevailing situation in the Naxal-hit areas in the eastern
region, the Railways have decided to extend suspension of
night movement of trains in parts of West Bengal and Jharkhand
till August 3.
The decision comes in the backdrop of CPI (Maoists)
observing a week-long `martyrs week` till Tuesday.
The Home Ministry has already issued an advisory to
Maoist-affected states and asked the Railway authorities to
tighten security in public places and areound their properties
to foil any attempt by the Naxalites to strike during this
period.
The suspension of night operations will remain in
vogue from 10 PM to 5 AM between Kharagpur and Tatanagar and
between Kharagpur and Adra, said a Railway Ministry official.
The suspension was put in place immediately after the
Jnaneshwari train derailment on May 28, suspected to have been
carried out by the Maoists. The accident had claimed 148
lives.
Both the South Eastern as well as the East Coast
Railways have diverted or rescheduled several trains in view
of the suspension notice.
In view of the martyrs week observance by the Maoists,
the Railways have also stepped up vigil in Naxal-hit states
like West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and
Maharahstra.
The MHA advisory has also asked the Railway Ministry
to ensure proper security to trains and passengers travelling
through these states and sought deployment of additional
guards in bridges and railway stations.
The Railway official said special task forces have
been kept on standby to meet any eventuality, while trains are
being run in bunches escorted by pilot engines, the official
said. Speed restrictions have also been put on the
locomotives.
-PTI
