24 February,2010 08:59 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Terror has arrived in the city with the German Bakery blast, but not the bulletproof jackets that the Government Railway Police will need in case of a 26/11-style attack
If a 26/11-style attack were to play itself out at the Pune railway station as it did in 2008 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, the Government Railway Police (GRP) would be left with no choice but to face the terrorists without a basic requirement like a bulletproof jacket.
Despite requests for the protective jackets made nearly a year ago, the state has remained deaf to the GRP's pleas. The GRP in the city have been trained to tackle terrorists, but don't have a single bulletproof jacket,
a must-have item in combat operations.
Speaking to MiD-Day, Dr Digambar Pradhan, additional SP, Pune railway, said they were recently sent hi-tech equipment such as AK-47s, metal detectors and baggage screeners by the home ministry, but the basics were missing.
"We need at least 50 bullet proof jackets. That's our basic demand. We have made the request to the state home department," he said.
According to Pradhan, the GRP in the city have been developing two Quick Response Teams (QRT) of commandos, with modern weapons and anti-sabotage equipment.u00a0 "We have a wide jurisdiction and also handle other railway stations besides Pune." he said. "Our jurisdiction extends to Kolhapur, Solapur, Satara, Ahmadnagar, Osmanabad and Latur."
