Fresh RPF recruitment to meet Maoist threat: Gowda

Ranchi: With Maoists often targeting railway properties, Railway Minister D V Sadananda Gowda today said fresh recruitment would be made in the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to deal with it.

"The railway department is planning to recruit 17,000 constables, including 4000 women, as safety and security is its topmost priority," Gowda said in reply to a query that Maoists have been targeting railway properties.

Recently, they caused derailment of a freight train in Latehar district, he added.

The Maoists and other splinter groups call bandhs in the state several times in a year and destroy railway tracks or cause derailment of goods train.