Naxal threat: Night train service cancelled in Dandakaranya

New Delhi: Owing to Naxalite threat in Chhattisgarh’s Dandakaranya region, the railways has cancelled train movement in the area during night from today till 12 June. “In view of observance of ‘Janapituri Week’ by Naxalites from 5 to 11 June in Dandakaranya area of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, train services in Koraput and Kirandul section will be disrupted,” a release of East Coast Railway said.[caption id=“attachment_841801” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Maoist threat to trains in Chhattisgarh. PTI[/caption] Train movements during night from 8 pm of 4 June to 6 am of of 12 June in the section will remain cancelled. Visakhapatnam-Koraput-Kirandul-Visakhapatnam passenger will be short terminated at Jagadalpur and will remain cancelled between Jagadalpur to Kirandul from both the directions, the release said. Freight trains services between Kamlur and Kumar Sadra during night have been restricted to run with a speed limit of 20 kmph during the above period, it said. Meanwhile, railways has alerted RPF’s all chief security commissioners concerned to take precautionary measures. While patrolling along the tracks by GRP has been intensified in Naxal affected areas, RPF position has also been strengthened in the area. East Coast Railway, Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railway, South-East Central Railway and East Central Railway have been identified as Naxalite-prone zones. “Though combating Maoist menace is a law and order issue and tackled by state police, RPF personnel are being deployed in sensitive areas to guard tracks, bridges and tunnels,” a senior railway ministry official said. Currently, RPF is escorting 1,275 trains and GRP personnel are being deployed in about 2,200 trains as a preventive measure. PTI