Train to Valley: Govt to step up security at project sites

The Government is looking at raising additional security personnel and deploying extra paramilitary forces to make sure that the crucial Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla...

The Government is looking at raising additional security personnel and deploying extra paramilitary forces to make sure that the crucial Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway project is guarded against possible militant strikes.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the state police provide security to equipment and personnel at the project sites. But the state Government is keen to bring in additional personnel either by deploying more Central forces or by recruiting more men into the Government Railway Police (GRP).

The possible threats to the project and the need to deploy more security personnel as the work progresses was discussed at a high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta here last week. Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Kuldeep Khuda, Special Secretary Internal Security in the Home Ministry M L Kumawat and officials from the Railway Ministry were also present.

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The Rs 1,300-crore project, which has been delayed by technical complications due to the terrain, has a high threat perception since it will link the Kashmir valley to the rest of the country. Engineers and other project personnel have been the target of militant groups in the past. A railway engineer and his brother had been shot dead by militants in 2004, prompting the contractors to stop work till foolproof security was provided. More recently, militants tried to kill another engineer. He survived but his personal security officer (PSO) was killed.

“We are trying to work out the most effective way to provide adequate security cover for the project,” Khuda told The Indian Express.

Two companies of the Railway Police Security Force (RPSF) have already been deployed for the project, said Director General Railway Protection Force MK Sinha. The force is at the disposal of the state Government for deployment as needed. As the project progresses and stretches become operational, more personnel will be needed to secure stations, equipment and other railway property.

The Indian Railways, Konkan Railway Corporation and the Indian Railway Construction Corporation (IRCON) are executing the 292-km project. While Indian Railways is responsible for the Udhampur-Katra link, Konkan Railway is constructing the Katra-Laole stretch. IRCON is in charge of the Laole-Baramulla stretch.