The chief security commissioner of South Eastern Railways has also requested the Railway ministry to approach the Union Home Ministry for allotment of adequate companies of CRPF for protection of rail tracks.

On Wednesday, an alert was sounded from Jhargarm that around 100 armed villagers have gathered at the spot and they were targeting several superfast trains, including the Duronto Express. Train services were suspended in the Khragpur-Tatanagar section immediately.

“Railways have become an easy target, we should have a strong security arrangement in the Naxal-hit areas,” said A K Singh, Chief Security Commissioner, South Eastern Railways. “Since we cannot do anything on our own, we have to depend on the state government for the protection of rail tracks.”

As per rules, security to rail tracks, tunnels and bridges have to be provided by the state government. But due to shortage of manpower, nothing has been done till now. “We have requested the Railways to approach the Union Home Ministry to allot adequate CRPF companies to guard the tracks,” Singh said. “The force should be exclusively for the Railways. There has to be an agreement that under no circumstances the force will be withdrawn from the areas.”

Senior railway officials will hold a meeting with the state home secretary and the director general of police on Friday to discuss the frequent sabotage of railway tracks.