GRP was unwilling to register Puri train fire case: Sinha

Bhubaneswar: The Government Railway Police (GRP) was "reluctant" to register a case in connection with the serial train fire at Puri railway station on November 12, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha on Sunday said.

"You may be aware that GRP was unwilling to register a case in the train fire incident initially even though one man was nabbed by two sepoys of the Railway Protection Force (RPF)," Sinha said.

Expressing concern over the incident, he said "The GRP, however, registered a case when evidence was placed before them. The Chief Security Commissioner of Railways spoke to the accused person. He (accused man) admitted to have been involved in similar train fire incidents at Gaya and Haridwar."

"Based on this clue, the RPF suspected terror links in the train fire incident and the matter was handed over to NIA for a detail probe. The NIA will investigate into the matter and the RPF has nothing to do in this case now," Sinha said.

Three express trains at Puri railway station was set on fire one after another on November 12.

The RPF had nabbed one Subhas Ramachandra from the railway station and the the NIA was assigned the investigate the incident.

On passengers' security, Sinha said the Railways have introduced Integrated Security System and all major stations including those in Odisha would be covered under this programme.

"The Railways have decided to recruit ten per cent of women in the RPF. This will provide better security for the women passengers," Sinha added.