Samjhauta Express may be targeted, warns Home Ministry
MHA warns railways of serious lapses in security
By : manish anand
Update: 2014-08-01 04:13 GMT
New Delhi: Apprehending sabotage to the warming up of India-Pak relations by terror groups, the Union home ministry has warned the railways that the Pakistan bound Samjhauta Express could be an easy target. It also stated that there had been serious lapses in ensuring full-proof anti-sabotage measures in the train in the recent days.
The immigration section of the foreigners division of the MHA in a letter to the railways has sought immediate remedial measures to ensure conduct of full-pro-of anti-sabotage measures in the Attari (Pakistan) bound Samjhauta Express, which, incidentally, was bombed in 2007.
Sources revealed that the note was issued after an internal assessment found that the Samjhauta Express being a soft target for terrorists, may face a repeat bombing after 2007, to der-ail the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find ways to improve relations with Pakistan.
The MHA has brought to the notice of the railways that the Samjhauta Express train, of late, is being brought to the platform much behind the schedule and, thus, giving time for the anti-sabotage exercise.
“As per the SOP, the train is usually placed at platform number one at around 4 pm following which the rummaging of compartments is carried out by the bomb disposal squad and the dog squad. The platform is sealed to prevent any unauthorised access,” the MHA notes, stressing that of late time schedule is not being followed. =