Srinagar, Mar 9: The shortage of security staff that mans the 119 kilometre long railway track from south Kashmir’s Qazigund area to north Kashmir’s Baramulla district has taken toll on railway network in Valley.
 Admitting that the tracks in valley are exposed to security risks, officials said less portion of the tracks are covered by armed personnel from south to north.
 “A very less portion of the track is covered. So by all standards, it’s impossible for the Government Railway Protection Force (GRPF) and other forces to keep vigil,” they said.
 The 119-kms railway track is guarded by estimated 1100 personnel of GRPF.
 Besides, few personnel’s of Railway Protection Force (RPF) guards some installation upon the track.
 “So it’s impossible to protect the line with such a less number of people. During night also you need to guard the line. However, for that, you need people in shifts. You cannot expect a group of five people would maintain the round the clock vision within their designated area,” a senior official in the railways said.
 The official said there is deficiency of at least 1000 more personnel to improve the security apparatus of the railway line.
 Meanwhile, two officials of Jammu and Kashmir Government Railway Protection Force (J&KGRPF) have been suspended for dereliction of duty during the course of investigation.
 On Monday night, a part the railway line was ripped apart after an IED planted allegedly by the militants went off on the city outskirts   at Wanabal, Nowgam.
 Deputy Inspector General, Railways, Mubarak A. Ganai, said there was over all shortage of manpower to guard the line.
 “The deficiency is covered by the sophisticated deployment along the track,” he said. “There is enough deployment who could keep watch and could foil any security risk. You can not call the track as vulnerable”.
 He said the track is being guarded even during the night. “Apart from GRPF personnel, we have six railway police stations and nine posts along the track. We have some personnel of RPF who guard the railway station and other installations of the department”
 Ganai said the Monday’s attack on the track occurred due to carelessness of some officials. “We have suspended an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a Hawaldar for dereliction of duty,” he said.
 Meanwhile he said they have alerted the security to foil any attack to blow up the track.
 “I have passed on instruction to our concerned SSP and DSP’s to increase the vigil along the track,” DIG said. “They have been asked to increase the night patrolling as well”.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 9 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST