(a) whether a goods train has been blown up in Kamrup District of Assam as reported in the Hindustan Times dated July 31, 2000;
(b) the details of loss of property and life suffered in this incident;
(c) the name of the militant group involved therein;
(d) whether the Union Government in consultation with the State Governments have taken/propose to take any concrete steps in this regard; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS ( I.D. SWAMI )
(a): Yes, sir.
(b): About 150 metres length of Railway track got damaged and 12 bogies of a goods train got derailed. There was no human casualty.
(c): According to available information, the banned National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) is suspected to be involved in this explosion.
(d)&(e): Yes Sir. The Government has taken the following steps in this regard :-
Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to hold District Level Coordination Committee meetings immediately to chalk-out effective Rail Security measures in their respective districts. Vigilance on railway tracks has been intensified. Railway gangmen, Home Guards and GRP personnel have been deployed for joint track patrolling. Static Police and armed Guards have been mounted on all the important railway bridges in the State. State police and Railway Protection Force personnel as well as Home Guards have been deployed in all passenger/goods trains. Major militant outfits have been declared as unlawful associations under the Unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Regular review of the situation, both at the State and Central government level, is being made.