Railways may seek paramilitary to guard tracks in Naxal areas

In the wake of a series of Maoist attacks on trains and rail infrastructure, the railway ministry is likely to seek deployment of paramilitary forces like CRPF to guard its tracks and property in Naxal-hit areas.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are guarding tracks as well as trains in close coordination with GRP and state police at present, a senior railway ministry official noted.

However, following an increase in incidents of Maoists targeting railway properties, the ministry is mulling over a proposal to seek deployment of paramilitary forces like CRPF to guard its tracks and property in Naxal-affected areas, he said.

Currently, the railways are modernising RPF but want to further strengthen the security measures to prevent Maoist attacks on trains and tracks.

The left wing extremists have been regularly blowing up railway tracks and attacking trains and railway stations, severely disrupting train traffic in areas under their influence in five states of the country.

Last month, Howrah-Mumbai Gyaneshwari Express was derailed near Jhragram in West Midnapore district of West Bengal killing 149 people and involvement of Maoist-backed elements is being suspected in the incident.