Bengaluru: Panic gripped the Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in Bengaluru on Friday when an object resembling a hand grenade was spotted near the trolley path of platform number 1.
The object was spotted by the railway staff near the Patna-bound Sanghamitra Express at around 8:45 am and the area was immediately cordoned off as security officials herded people away from it.
The bomb and dog squads rushed to the spot along with the police and conducted a thorough search of the trains, platforms and the station, but found nothing out of the ordinary. The Sanghamitra Express, which was supposed to depart at 9 am, was delayed for a while as the train was checked thoroughly
Railway Police Force commissioner, Divya Smitha, said the metal object, which had no explosive substance in it, had been sent to the bomb squad for further investigation. “We have registered a case and are investigating,” she added.
Additional Director General of Police, Railways, Alok Mohan, who also rushed to the spot, confirmed the object found had no explosives attached to it and there was no threat to anyone.
As for the beeping sound heard from inside a coach of the train, which created more panic at the station, Mr. Mohan said it was from a malfunctioning CCTV camera installed in it.
The security at the railway station has been beefed up and the checks at the entrances and exits intensified. The railway police is examining the CCTV footage from platforms one and two as part of the investigation.
Speaking to reporters later, home minister M B Patil said he had ordered a detailed investigation into the incident. "The hand grenade like object found at the station was a dummy. We don’t know who brought it to the station and threw it on the trolley path. I have ordered a detailed probe into the incident," he said.
Meanwhile, the incident has drawn attention to the poor security at the Krantiveera Sangoli Rayanna railways station, which handles over two lakh passengers every day and sees around 100 trains arrive and depart daily. Unlike the metal detectors at the Metro stations, the ones at the KSR railway station do not function properly and have no security officials to monitor them either.
"This incident is an eye-opener. It is alarming that anyone can walk into the station carrying whatever they like," said a passenger.
Although the Kempegowda International Airport and KSR Railway station have recieved hoax bomb calls in the past, this is perhaps for the first time that a hand grenade like object has been found at the railway station.
