Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:-

(a)        the number of persons who lost their lives due to a bomb blast in the Dibrugarh-Delhi Rajdhani Express in December, 2007;

(b)        the number out of them who were passengers and railway men separately and the outcome of the statutory enquiry conducted into the blast and action taken thereon; and

(c)        the compensation paid to the victims of the bomb blast by his Ministry and other authorities, if any?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(DR. R. VELU)

(a):       5 (five) passengers were died in the incident of bomb blast in the Dibrugarh-Delhi Rajdhani Express in December, 2007.

(b):       All the 5(five) persons who died in the blast were bonafide passengers. In this connection, Government Railway Police Station, Bokajan registered a case vide No. 03/07 dated 13.12.2007 under section 120(B)/ 121/ 121(A)/ 302, 338 and 427 IPC (Indian Penal Code) read with section 3 & 4 Explosive substance Act. However, the blast incident has been investigated by the Bomb Disposal Unit of National Security Guards (NSG). The investigation has concluded that IEDs have figured in a big way for terrorist groups and these disgruntled elements of the society trying to enforce their writ on the society and the State. The only effective counter measure against them is preventing them by being more vigilant.

Accordingly, all the Chiefs Security Commissioner, Railway Protection Force have been advised to take necessary action on the preventive measures suggested by National Security Guard viz. real time actionable intelligence, access control to Railway stations, patrolling of Railway tracks, institutional mechanisms to control the procurement and use of commercially available explosives, creating public awareness about the items use in IED blasts by the militant organizations, training of the security staff and blast site management etc.

(c):       Compensation is paid only after a decree is awarded on a claim filed in this regard in the Railway Claims Tribunal. So far, no decree has been awarded.