Railways may seek CRPF help in Naxal-hit 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 the Central Reserve Police Force to guard its tracks and property in the Naxal-hit areas.

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

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 Gyaneswari 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.