Lok Sabha Question No. 472 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-11-20
Subject: Blast at Hubballi Railway Station
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Nalin Kumar Kateel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 472 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.11.2019

## BLAST AT HUBBALLI RAILWAY STATION

472. SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)    whether  there  was  a  minor  blast  at  Hubballi  railway  station  in Karnataka;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof;
- (c)    whether the Government has taken any measures to enhance the security at all major railway stations to ensure safety of passengers; and
- (d)     if so, the details in this regard?

ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 472 BY SHRI NALIN KUMAR KATEEL TO BE ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  20.11.2019  REGARDING  BLAST  AT HUBBALLI RAILWAY STATION

- (a)  and  (b):    Yes,  Sir.    A  low  intensity  explosion  occurred  at  Hubballi Railway Station on 21.10.2019. On receiving information regarding a left over luggage in Train no. 17225 at Hubballi Railway Station (Platform no. 4),  Railway  Protection  Force  (RPF)  took  unclaimed  baggage  to  Station Manager's Office and some paddy dust in red cloth along with 08 nos. of small plastic boxes with dry lemon like articles were found inside it. A food supplier took one lemon like article and tried to break it and a low intensity explosion took place injuring his palm. Immediately the injured was rushed to the hospital by RPF. In this incident, Government Railway Police (GRP) Station, Hubballi registered a case vide Crime No. 108/2019 Explosive Act, 1884 [u/s 9(B)]; Explosive Substances Act, 1908 (u/s 4,5); IPC 1860 (u/s 326,307)  dated 21.10.2019 against unknown person.
- (c)  and  (d):  Policing  on  Railways  being  a  State  subject,  prevention  of crime, registration of cases, their investigation and maintenance of law &  order  in  Railway  premises  as  well  as  on  running  trains  are  the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP)/District Police. Cases of Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes are registered and investigated by the concerned GRP. Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the efforts of  GRP  to  provide  better  protection  and  security  to  passenger  area  & passengers and for matters connected therewith.

However,  the  following  steps  are  also  being  taken  by  the  Railways  in coordination with GRP for safety and security of passengers in trains and at stations:-

1. On  vulnerable  and  identified  routes/sections,  2200  trains  (on  an average) are escorted by Railway Protection Force daily in addition to  2200  trains  escorted  by  Government  Railway  Police  of  different States daily.
2. Surveillance  is  kept  through  CCTV  cameras,  provided  at  about  473 stations  over  Indian  Railways,  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of passengers.

3. Security  Help  Line  number  182  is  operational  over  Indian  Railways for security related assistance to passengers in distress.
4. Through  various  social  media  platforms  viz.  twitter,  facebook  etc., Railways are in regular touch with passengers to enhance security and address their security concerns.
5. An  Integrated  Security  System  (ISS)  consisting  of  surveillance  of vulnerable stations through Close Circuit Television (CCTV) Camera Network,  Access  Control  etc.  has  been  sanctioned  to  improve surveillance mechanism over 202 railway stations.
6. Anti sabotage checks are undertaken with sniffer dogs at all major stations  as  well  as  in  trains.  Further  baggage  scanners  are  being used  at  entry  points  of  major  stations  for  checking  of  luggage  of passengers and use of Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMD) & Hand Held Metal Detectors (HHMD) are ensured.
7. Time to time mock bomb blast drills are conducted at some major & sensitive  Railways  stations  over  Indian  Railways  by  the  Railway authorities in full coordination with sister agencies to check preparedness of the disaster management teams & equipments.
8. Close  liaison  is  made  by  the  Railways  with  the  State  Police/GRP authorities, Central & State Intelligence agencies and Civil authorities at all levels for prevention of crime, registration of cases, their  investigation  and  maintenance  of  law  &  order  in  Railway premises as well as on running trains.
9. Frequent announcements are made through Public Address System to  educate  passengers  to  be  alert  and  inform  about  unclaimed articles/bags/materials found at stations & in trains.
10. RPF  Special  Task  Force  teams,  Crime  Prevention  and  Detection Squads  etc.  are  functioning  to  curb  passengers'  related  offences. Surprise checks are conducted in night hours and staff are briefed to be extra vigilant & alert
11. Drives are conducted  from  time  to  time  against  the  entry  of unauthorized persons in trains and railway premises.

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