Title - High security for Thar Express after Taliban threat

JAISALMER: Taliban's threat to attack Indians following the hanging of Ajmal Kasab has put Indian security agencies on toes particularly over the safety of passengers of the Thar Express coming from Karachi in Pakistan. Security has been beefed up for the train which departs from Karachi every Friday and arrives at Munabao (India) every Saturday. BSF headquarters has given directions for strict vigilance while escorting the Thar Express from the Munabao international border to the railway station, while the nodal agency, GRP, at the Munabao railway station has made complete preparations for tight security and intensive checking. P P Tagyak, the SP of GRP, said given the current situation, the security of the train has been tightened specially for the which reached India on Saturday. Coordination has been maintained with local police and directions have been given for strict vigilance and intensive checking at Munabao railway station. A sniffer dog squad was also present while CCTVs and other security arrangements were being reviewed. The current Thar Express was manufactured in 1965 and as the train is very old, several security loopholes could crept in, Tagyak said. BSF Gujarat frontier, which has jurisdiction over the Munabao rail station, has sounded high alert after the Taliban threat. The frontier's DIG U K Nyal confirmed that the alert has been sounded. Nyal said the BSF's responsibility is to escort the train from international border to Munabao railway station under tight security and the force has made strict security arrangements for the same. The jawans and officers deployed there have been given directions to maintain strict vigil and BSF jawans deployed at the watch towers at the Munabao border have been asked to remain alert and keep a strict watch on the train. The DIG further said BSF jawans are also keeping a strict vigil in the water area of Sir Creek at the international border adjoining Gujarat. On Wednesday, BSF jawans at Khabada area caught a Pakistani intruder at border post number 1145. During interrogation, the intruder identified himself as Alam Khan (45), a resident of Pakistan. So far, he has not given any more information. Security agencies believed that Pakistani intelligence must have sent him to check the security arrangements in India. The intruder is now in the custody of police, Nyal added.