Security tightened at railway stations

Check-posts put up at entry, exit points

Soon after the twin blasts on board the Bangalore-Guwahati Express at the Chennai Central Railway Station on Thursday, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) tightened security in all railway stations across the city.

Additional security personnel were deployed at the entry and exit points of the Bangalore City Railway Station from where the train left at around 11.30 p.m. on Wednesday. Passengers boarding and alighting trains were frisked and dog squads were pressed into service.

As many as 60 personnel from the GRP are assisting the RPF in checking passengers and their luggage with hand-held metal detectors.

However, the door-frame metal detectors at the entrance of the Bangalore City Railway Station are defunct, the Railway Police officials admitted.

Superintendent of Police (Railway) S.N. Siddaramappa said that the bomb disposal squad was pressed into service but after hours of sanitisation and searching, the police did not find anything.

Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force, S. Louis Amuthan said that a special commando unit and the crime intelligence units of the RPF have been deployed. The number of armed personnel on board moving trains has been increased, he said.

The public announcement system was made use to inform passengers to remain alert and immediately alert the police if they find anything suspicious.

Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) M.N. Reddi visited the Bangalore City Railway Station and supervised the security arrangements. Apart from railway stations, public places, including bus stands, religious places, airports and malls, have been given security cover. Check-posts have been put up at the entry and exit points of the State, and the police have been asked to check the movement of vehicles.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Pant said that the police would intensify security for the IPL match at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium from May 4.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up at important stations in the Mysore Railway Division.

Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal told The Hindu that they have a security protocol in place that automatically comes into effect in times of events such as this.