Railways to post commandos on trains, stations to check Naxal attacks

The Railways will come up with its own commando unit for guarding important trains and major stations as part of its strategy to thwart any Naxal or terrorist attack.

The 12 battalions (about 1,200 personnel) of Special Railway Protection Force (SRPF) – to be positioned in Rajdhanis and Shatabdis trains — are undergoing advanced training to deal with any attempt by left-wing extremists and terrorists to target Railways. The decision, officers say, has been taken recently by the Railway Board.

“Commandos are undergoing training at various training schools run by the army and paramilitary forces. The force will act as a striking unit in case of such attacks,” Railway Protection Force Director General Ranjit Sinha told PTI.

Authorities are also planning to create ‘commando hubs’ at important stations like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Guwahati among others. Mr. Sinha said these commandos will complete their training in next three to four months and then “we can decide about their role and responsibilities.”

The commandos will also be posted in Naxal-hit areas, the Jammu and Kashmir and Northeast regions.

“Railways as an important mean of transportation act as a soft target for the terrorists. We continue to assess and upgrade security to protect millions of its passengers and its property. These commandos are another step to ensure foolproof security,” Mr. Sinha said.