Cops to increase security at car sheds

The Thane railway police were still grappling with the murder of an unidentified woman, whose body was found in an empty local at the Kalwa train yard on Friday, when a 45-year-old man was found hanging inside another empty train at Thane siding on Sunday. Susamma Kurian reports.

The Thane railway police were still grappling with the murder of an unidentified woman, whose body was found in an empty local at the Kalwa train yard on Friday, when a 45-year-old man was found hanging inside another empty train at Thane siding on Sunday.

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With these two incidents occurring in the span of 48 hours, it is clear that all is not well with the security arrangements in trains and at car sheds.

Deputy commissioner of police (central railway) Anil Tamaichekar said: “The car shed and siding areas are isolated places. It is the responsibility of the railway protection force (RPF) to keep them secure. We will be writing to the RPF to enhance security.”

Following Friday’s incident, Tamaichekar had told HT that he would write to the divisional railway manager on security issues. A RPF official said the bodies were placed in the trains at railway stations and not at the car shed or the siding. He added that there is a staff of 18 RPF officials and constables who look after the Kalwa car shed.

The Thane siding, too, is guarded by the RPF. There are at least two guards posted at the siding at a time, said another official. However, it becomes difficult to guard the 10 lines at the siding because it is an open area, the official added.

“We will tighten the security at the siding in light of recent incidents,” said senior police inspector Ajay Yadav of Thane RPF.