Jamshedpur, Jan. 21: With Republic Day less than a week away, the Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) have decided to enhance vigilance by beefing up security at the Tatanagar railway station.
Regular announcements were also being made at station asking passengers not to touch any unattended luggage, but inform the authorities about it instead.
Plain clothes policemen have been pressed into service to track any suspicious activity and unattended luggage in the railway station.
This action is in addition to a directive issued by the Railway Board, which had directed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to deploy jawans at the station due to a spurt in terrorist activities across India.
�Policemen in plainclothes are keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity on the platforms, on passengers and visitors in the waiting rooms. An armed squad comprising four men are also doing the rounds,� said Tatanagar station manager O.P. Sharma.
Mr. Sharma said that dustbins at the stations as well as those of the trains are being properly checked. Police have been asked to remain vigilant about unattended luggage.
“Foot patrolling has been intensified on platforms and the circulating area,” Sharma said. The parcel yard and the parking area outside the railway station were also being monitored.
RPF and GRP are planning a joint meeting and would look after all the security arrangements are in place and further arrangements that are required to be made.
If required, doorframe metal detectors at the platforms� entry and exit points at Tatanagar station would be put up said a railway spokesperson.
Rail superintendent of police, Mritunjay Kumar said that policemen have been deputed at the station keeping in view of the Republic Day celebrations in various parts of the district there should be no tension or threat, said Kumar, adding that jawans were deputed to monitor movements of the passengers during the night.
Police personnel, including women, have been deputed at strategic locations in and around the station and over 12 policemen have been deputed during the day as well, he said. The Railway Board has given a lot of emphasis on security of the passengers in the trains as well as the station.
�We are directing the GRP as well as RPF to beef up security for the safe journey of the passengers,� a senior railway official said, adding that it was vital as the railways were always the soft target of terrorists and rebels.
Tatanagar is one of the busiest stations of the South Eastern Railway (SER) in eastern India, which witnesses footfalls of thousands of passengers everyday come from various parts of the country.
