(a) whether a newly constructed railway station was blasted by Nexalities of the banned People`s War Group at
Basanpalli in Andhra Pradesh;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the value of railway property damaged in the blast; and
(d) the preventive measures taken by the Government to stop such incidents in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI O. RAJAGOPAL)
a) Yes, Sir.
b) On the night of 26.12.2001, some activists of PWG blasted one room of a building which was under
construction for the Railway Station at Basanpalli causing damage to signaling equipment, etc. In this
connection, a case has been registered by the local Police/Chinnakothapalli in their station Cr. No. 87/2001
u/s 427, 436 & 448 IPC, r/w 3 & 5 of Explosive Substance Act, Section 3 & 4 of Prevention of Damage to
Public Property (PDPP) Act and section 8(1) of Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act. The case is under
investigation.
c) Rs. 8 lakhs approximately.
d) Maintenance of Law and Order is a State Subject and hence the responsibility to prevent such incidents lies
with the State Governments. However, the Railways on their part, have deployed armed pickets at
vulnerable stations to supplement the efforts of the State Government.