Commando cops to guard Metro stations

Chennai: Guards of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd are now undergoing training in not only sabotage checks but being sensitized about checking commuters without hurting their sentiments.

This move follows a recent incident in which security personnel at Vadapalani metro station asked a Sikh man to remove his turban.

The training is being conducted by the security officers of Chennai Metro Rail with the help of specialists from TN police.

At present, CMRL has a battalion of Tamil Nadu special police and over 175 private security personnel for protecting metro stations from Koyambedu to Alandur, the first stretch which became operational a few months ago.

While the TSP men are now being given commando training, private guards are undergoing training in frisking without offending commuters, using gadgets with which they are not familiar with. “They are also given more focused instructions to act when faced with various situations,” a CMRL source told this newspaper.

The turban incident, which took place in the first week of September, had created lot a ruckus in social media after which CMRL tendered an apology to the commuter. “We don’t want such things to get repeated. So the training is being imparted to all of them how to handle such thing without compromising security,” a source said.

The armed TSP men will be looking after more serious issues at the metro stations. By giving them commando training, CMRL will be planning to use them to prevent untoward incident and as the last line of defence when it comes to the protection of metro stations and passengers.

Private security guar ds are being engaged for frisking and anti-sabotage checks. There are woman guards to checks woman passengers.