3 days ago
Spl drive to nab mischief-mongers
Puri: With Rath Yatra less than a month away, the railways has ramped up security measures across the region. The GRP and RPF have launched a joint special drive to curb criminal activities, resulting in the arrest of six persons and seizure of 35 mobile phones over the past two days.
On Sunday morning, GRP and RPF personnel foiled a robbery attempt with the arrest of four persons. The accused have been identified as Dillip Jena (35), Babul Barik (35), Sanjay Sethi (22), Manoj Behera (20) from different districts. Officials recovered 20 mobile phones, two knives, four packets of chilli powder, four masks, four train tickets, cigarettes and 40 bottles of liquor from them.
According to GRP IIC Santosh Kumar Bahinipati, the gang was planning to target passengers aboard in the weekly Puri–Valsad Express.
Puri RPF inspector Hari Darshan Sharma said the day before the major arrests, two other suspects were apprehended and five mobile phones seized. "In the past 15 days, we've recovered 35 mobile phones through combined operations," he said.
The railways is enhancing surveillance from Puri to Khurda Road stations. Additional CCTV cameras are being installed, monitored closely, and drones are being deployed to strengthen security. "Between 600 to 700 additional security personnel will be deployed during Rath Yatra," Sharma added.
