Two days after the suspected bid to derail the Kalindi Express train in Kanpur, the Delhi Police has asked the railway staff to be on high alert along with increasing deployment of security at Delhi Metro stations.
A major train accident was averted on Monday by an alert loco pilot as the Bhiwani-Prayagraj Kalindi Express was brought to a screeching half after hitting an LPG cylinder placed on tracks. A bottle of petrol and matchboxes were also found at the site hinting at sabotage. The Kanpur Police has lodged an FIR in the matter.
According to officials on Wednesday, the Delhi Police have also asked the staff of Delhi Metro to be vigilant and alert. It has also asked to increase checking of passengers and subsequently more police personnel will be deployed at the metro stations in the city to deter any similar sabotage attempt in the city's lifeline Delhi Metro.
“The entire staff of the Railways unit has been put on high alert following the Kanpur incident,” a senior police officer of the Delhi Police said, adding that both foot and motorcycle patrolling have been enhanced.
He added that anti-sabotage checks are being conducted regularly along the railway tracks with the help of dog squads and bomb disposal teams. “We have also asked the railway staff of many adjoining areas to keep strict vigil in and around the railway stations and railway tracks,” another senior police officer said.
A joint patrolling team along with the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and other stakeholders has been put in place.
According to sources, Centre has asked all stakeholders including the States to be extra vigilant to thwart the nefarious designs of those involved to destabilise the railways particularly in a compact zone comprising parts of Central Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Additionally, investigations have also been launched about the pattern of such activities which began with bomb threats at schools followed by similar hoax in the shopping malls and now the railways at the top level.
Pakistan-based terror mastermind Farhatullah Ghori who was behind the 2002 Akshardham temple attack and Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast, had released a video message to terror sleeper cells in India, urging them to carry out attacks on trains, petroleum pipelines, and Hindu Leaders. The recent train accidents have also been investigated from this angle.
After the suspected bid to derail the Kalindi Express, different security agencies have detained over two dozen people, including three members of a family for questioning. A multi-agency probe, that included the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Uttar Pradesh Police, was launched into the matter which officials suspected could have terror links.
Additionally, Delhi Police recently arrested about 14 people of ISIS from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. Further, the investigating agencies have collected footage from 219 cameras and questioned over 100 individuals in connection with the Kanpur train derailment attempt.
However, this is not the first time that such sabotages have been attempted. A similar pattern was noticed when there was an exceptional jump in “sabotage” cases with around 18 incidents reported in December 2017.
