In the latest, a commuter yesterday claimed he had eavesdropped on two people plotting blasts on local trains and railway platforms, sending the troops into a tizzy
It was a manic Monday for railway cops. A passenger, who claimed he had overheard two persons scheming about planting bombs on local trains and rail platforms, called up the Government Railway Police (GRP) helpline number. GRP officials say they immediately alerted Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Better safe than sorry: Since the violence at Azad Maidan, railway cops have received over 20 hoax calls. Safety measures at railway stations have been beefed up in light of Independence Day. Representation pic
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“CCTV footages were checked from possible locations. We detained two passengers at Thane on the basis of the description provided by the caller, but later they were released as there was no evidence against them,” said a GRP official. He added that the caller had said the two ‘miscreants’ were speaking in Arabic.
When contacted by GRP and RPF men, the caller initially said he was willing to cooperate, but later started to avoid requests from the agencies. “The caller had informed us that he had descried the conversation of two passengers between Kurla and Kalyan. As an alert commuter, he was calling and informing the police about their sinister plans,” added the official.
Since the violence at Azad Maidan, railway cops have received more than 20 hoax calls.
G S Bhandare, deputy commissioner of police, GRP, said, “We are investigating the case and are also trying to ascertain whether this was another hoax call. We are also trying to prepare sketches of the duo described by the caller.”
Safety measures at railway stations have been beefed up in light of Saturday’s rioting and Independence Day tomorrow. Security personnel are doing 12-hour shifts instead of the usual 8 hours. Commuters too are being advised to remain alert and contact the authorities if they notice anything suspicious.u00a0
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