Thar Express searched at Munnabao

JODHPUR: Security agencies and explosive experts searched the Thar Express train, another symbol of friendship between India and Pakistan, at Munnabao station, about 200km from here, on Saturday as part of stepped-up vigil, a senior railway official said.

Against the backdrop of terror attack on Samjhauta Express in February, the Thar Express carrying passengers from Pakistan was subjected to intense search as soon as it reached Munnabao from Khokrapar in Pakistan's Sindh province at around 2000 hours, Divisional Railway Manager of Jodhpur SK Sud said.

He said the frisking of each passenger and search of their hand baggage and the luggage kept in a separate wagon was part of the beefed-up security plan that was put in place from Saturday in view of the fact that the Thar Express is to be extended from Munnbao to Bhagat-ki-Kothi, a small station in Jodhpur.

He rubbished reports that the search was prompted by intelligence inputs about the possibility of presence of terrorists on board the train.