The Border Security Force complained to the North-Eastern Railway on 9 June about the “untouchable/dirty” status of the “most coaches” in a special train, for the movement of 1,200 personnel for its 1,200 personnel to Tripura in 9 evenings, for the movement for Jammu Tawi to Jammu Tawi in Jammu-Tavi for Amarnath Yatra.
Saying that it was “not possible to travel such a long distance for Troops” in dilapidated coaches, BSF train commandant, who complained to Agartala station manager, demanded his immediate replacement.
On Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav “took a serious note of the incident related to the deployment of an inappropriate/old train” and an inquiry was ordered, a ministry official said that four officers – coaching depot officers and three senior section engineers – three senior section engineers of Alipurduar Railway Division were kept intoxicated.
According to the official, a particular train was specifically arranged for BSF personnel and it would leave Agrala station on Wednesday night.
“The Railway Minister has made it clear that the dignity and rest of the security forces is extremely priority and such negligence will not be tolerated at any level,” the official said.
In the complaint of the manager of AARAartala station, the BSF train commandant listed everyone with coaches – broken interiors, including toilet doors, infected with cockroaches and insects, dirty berths and washrooms without water or electricity.
The BSF train commandant said, “It is not possible for soldiers to travel such a long distance … in unhealthy/dirty and inhuman conditions” and every possibility that “most of them may fall ill even before deployment”.
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The official said that the special train was made available at Udaipur station only on 9 June at 6.30 pm, although it was required for June 6. According to the official, the entire battalion was to be included by June 12 as per the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The officer demanded immediate replacement of dilapidated coaches, and also stated that the special train should be “kept immediately for travel” “” to reach the destination as per the schedule given by the MHA and BSF Force Headquarters “.
BSF attached four files of videos and photographs of the allotted train.
A BSF spokesperson said, “We requested to provide a special train for our 1,200 personnel. On 9 June, he provided a train, but had some shortcomings and we immediately informed senior officials about the situation.”
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The upcoming Amarnath Yatra will be the first major pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir after the enmity between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and operation vermilion.
The Center has decided to deploy 581 companies of paramilitary personnel to ensure adequate security for the visit.
Attack (T) India-Pakistan Tension (T) Indian Express
