Wake-up call for security on Thar route

It is only after the blast on the Samjhauta Express late on Sunday night and the death of 66 passengers aboard that authorities in Rajasthan...

It is only after the blast on the Samjhauta Express late on Sunday night and the death of 66 passengers aboard that authorities in Rajasthan are beginning to notice flaws in the security arrangements at stations where theThar Express halts. At Munabao, where the Thar Express Cross Country stops, security is most neglected.

After 1971, the train first ran on February 17, 2006. Now after a break of six months, it resumed service on February 17, 2007. However, Munabao does not have a dog squad yet. The luggage screening machine at the station has been 8216;out of order8217; for over eight months now. And what comes as the biggest shock is that the Railway Police Force, State Police and the Railway Police Staff deployed at the station do not carry weapons. The reason: there is no store room where the weapons can be kept after duty hours.

The station has only one metal detector which is used by the Customs Department. However, even this, sources say, is not always functional and needs repair from time to time.

8220;We have sent our representatives to the authorities at least six times to get the machine repaired. But for some reason it has been pending for months now. One cannot expect the Customs officers to go through every piece of luggage manually, and so the checking is superficial,8221; admitted an official at the station.

A senior Customs officer said that manual checking of luggage is a tedious job especially when passengers carry so much of it. 8220;There are businessmen who carry a lot of goods with them. It is difficult to check every consignment. the station certainly needs better facilities. Home Minister Shivraj Patil, during his trip to the station early this month, had said that facilities at the station need to be upgraded,8221; the officer said.

Chief Commercial Manager Passenger, NWR and Chief PRO S B Gandhi say that directives have been issued to the railway staff on Monday, asking them to be alert. 8220;We have also decided to send a dog squad to the station and asked teams to be extra careful and vigilant,8221; said Gandhi. He said he was not aware that machines needed repair and assured that the matter would be looked into immediately.

Taking note of the luggage weight, a proposal to increase rates was also floated. However, since the train mainly caters to the lower-middle class, the rates were not revised and stayed at Rs 500.

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Last year, due to heavy traffic, authorities were forced to restrict the number to ensure that visa and security clearances were carried out properly. However, on February 17 this year, only 71 people took the train to Pakistan while 159 passengers from Pakistan took the return journey. The reservations for the next trip, scheduled for Saturday, will open on Thursday. 8220;We expect a better response,8221; said Gandhi.

Watch on Delhi-Lahore bus

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police has decided to enhance security of 8220;Karvan-e-Aman8221;, the Delhi-Lahore bus, when it passes through the state. Police sources said the state police has decied to provide additional security when this bus enters the state from Wagah border or crosses Shambu Barrier from Delhi. The police have also sounded a red alert across the state. A message has been flashed for more patrolling of crowded areas, vigil at bus stands and railway stations and checking of luggage of passengers.State borders have been sealed and nakas have been set up.