Railways on alert as LPG trains get security cover amid crisis

Hubballi: Following the West Asian crisis, LPG cylinder scarcity is intensifying in the state. Govt Railway Police (GRP) and South Western Railway (SWR) are geared up to provide bandobast for LPG transporting trains.In her circular dated April 2, railway SP Sarah Fathima instructed railway DSP of Bengaluru and Hubballi divisions, circle police inspectors and station officers of all railway police stations to take up appropriate bandobast to prevent possible untoward incidents. "Railway police stations should collect information about LPG transporting trains and ensure bandobast in association with local police and RPF," she added.In her circular dated April 2, railway SP Sarah Fathima instructed railway deputy superintendents of police of Bengaluru and Hubballi divisions, circle police inspectors of Bengaluru cantonment, Mysuru, Hubballi and Raichur railway circles, and station officers of all 18 railway police stations to take up appropriate bandobast to prevent possible untoward incidents. "Railway police stations should collect information about LPG transporting trains and ensure bandobast in association with local police and RPF," she added.Someshekhar Juttal, Railway DSP, Hubballi, asserted that normally security of trains falls under the jurisdiction of RPF. "However, we are instructed to maintain law and order in coordination with RPF," he stated. Manjunath Kanamadi, CPRO, SWR, Hubballi, said that there were no particular threat-kind messages received by the RPF. "For LPG/LNG, railway's standardised guidelines are being followed countrywide. No special instructions are received in the West Asia war crisis scenario," he asserted. Letter was not received! Though Railway SP issued a circular on April 2, it did not reach the railway officials and all railway police stations of the state till Friday evening. When TOI contacted some railway police stations, sources said that they were unaware of the circular. Even railway officials at Hubballi division informed that no such letter was received from GRP. When TOI contacted GRP SP Sarah Fathima to enquire about it, she was unavailable for comment.