Raghuvanshi vows to stop terror on tracks

‘Railways has always been targeted by terrorists. We need to weave an all-round security blanket’

Ensuring that the railway tracks are rendered “more” secure from possible future terrorist attacks is going to be the chief priority of the new Railways Additional Director General of Police KP Raghuvanshi.

Speaking to DNA on Thursday, shortly after assuming the new charge, Raghuvanshi - who will simultaneously be holding additional charge of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), at least for the time being - said, “We can’t deny that the railways had been chosen as perennial targets by transnational terrorist groups and so we need to work on weaving an all-round atmosphere of safety and security along the tracks, platforms and to other railways properties.”

Raghuvanshi, who will primarily be the controlling head of the Government Railway Police (GRP), also intends to study recent trends and patterns of railways crimes committed. Having headed the ATS for more than two years, many within the police believe that Raghuvanshi will successfully combine practical experience with a solid understanding of the “assorted threats” posed to the railways as a whole.

“Railways are a new responsibility area for me and any effort at improving existing systems should take cognisance of history. I will definitely take up certain security and allied issues with my officers in the course of the next few days,” he added.  He however refused to comment on if he will give the go-ahead to a previously mooted plan to study “railways security systems” in some of the advanced countries - which include the UK and Japan - with the purpose of “importing” certain techniques and eventually making them relevant locally.

“Let me not indulge in making tall claims on day one itself. Allow me to initially study and understand the entire system and the problems it faces. Only then would it be proper on my part to make such comments,” he said.