Title - The Hindu : Cities / Tiruchirapalli : Nothing goes unchecked at stations ahead of I-Day

Security at railway stations across Tiruchi division and at Tiruchi airport has been beefed up ahead of Independence Day.

The Railway Protection Force (RPF), vested with the responsibility of safeguarding railway property and escorting passenger trains, has deployed additional strength at Tiruchi and Villupuram Junctions to bolster security.

Passenger baggage are being frisked at major railway stations by RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel with the help of hand-held metal detectors.

The belongings of passengers were being checked using the scanner at Tiruchi Junction where a couple of doorframe metal detectors are to be installed on Tuesday.

Checks have also been intensified at the railway yards across the division with RPF personnel checking the coaches before they were moved to the platform.

RPF officials here say that security had been stepped at Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur, Vriddhachalam, Puducherry, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai, Nagapattinam, and Ariyalur stations. Major bridges have also been brought under security cover, the officials add.

A team of RPF personnel conducted security checks on the Chennai-bound Vaigai Express after the train arrived at Tiruchi Junction on Monday morning.

Split into different teams, the personnel armed with necessary paraphernalia checked the coaches. A sniffer dog trained in detecting explosive substances was utilised for the exercise.

Airport sources said security had been enhanced at the Tiruchi airport and entry of visitors banned up to August 20.

Additional Central Industrial Security Force personnel have been drawn to buttress security at the airport.