With two blasts reported in the last three months along Punjab’s Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday said surveillance and round-the-clock patrolling along the tracks will be intensified.
Bittu visited the blast site between Shambhu and Rajpura and reviewed the security situation on the ground. Expressing concern over repeated attacks on railway infrastructure, he said strict and immediate measures would be taken to intensify safety and monitoring across the corridor.
Punjab Police said a pro-Khalistan terror network backed by Pakistan’s ISI conducted the blast near Shambhu in Patiala late on Monday night.
One suspect was killed while attempting to detonate the explosives, while four other members linked to the module were apprehended, police said on Tuesday.
Talking to mediapersons, Bittu highlighted several steps being taken to improve security along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC). He said 24-hour patrolling will be intensified and surveillance coverage expanded significantly. Currently, 173 CCTV cameras are operational in the Punjab region of the Ambala Division, and additional installations are underway.
Special focus will be placed on isolated and vulnerable stretches of the corridor. Advanced monitoring systems, including drone surveillance, will be introduced in these areas.
Apart from technological surveillance, railway personnel will continue regular ground patrols to ensure track safety and quick response to any threat. “We will deploy drones because CCTV cameras alone cannot monitor such long stretches. Solar-powered cameras are also being installed,” Bittu said.
Special Director General of Police (Railway) Shashi Prabha Dwivedi, who inspected the blast site on Tuesday, had also stressed the need for CCTV installation along the freight corridor.
Bittu said this was the second explosion within three months and occurred within a distance of nearly 35 kilometres along the corridor. He added that more than 200 groups were currently active in attempts to disturb peace and harmony in Punjab.
Earlier, on January 23, a blast at Sirhind in Fatehgarh Sahib district damaged a train engine and left a railway official injured. While the earlier blast occurred about 800 metres from NH-44, the latest incident happened roughly 300 metres from the same highway. Authorities believe attackers may be using easy highway access to target railway tracks.
Bittu said there were signs of external involvement, with hostile elements attempting to destabilise the region by attacking critical infrastructure such as railways. He added that such incidents were not only security threats but also attempts to disrupt economic activity in the state.
The EDFC, connecting Sahnewal in Punjab to West Bengal, is a crucial economic corridor. Nearly 30 trains operate daily on the route, carrying industrial and agricultural goods. Any disruption affects both the state and the national economy.
The Railway MoS also praised the alertness of a loco pilot who stopped the train after sensing the impact of the blast, preventing a potentially major accident.
The loco pilot felt an unusual jerk while passing the route and immediately alerted authorities. The information was relayed to railway headquarters in Prayagraj, following which train movement was halted and a safety team rushed to the spot for inspection, Bittu said.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, he said all necessary steps were being taken to protect railway assets, ensure passenger and freight safety, and maintain uninterrupted economic operations.
Police said the suspect who died during Monday’s blast was identified as Jagrup Singh, a resident of Panjwar village in Tarn Taran district. He reportedly mishandled the explosive device while attempting to plant it on the tracks.
Four others arrested included Pardeep Khalsa, alleged kingpin of the module, who was in contact with Malaysia-based pro-Khalistani handlers and Pakistan-based arms suppliers, police had said.
Bittu said the accused were highly radicalised and those trying to disturb peace in Punjab were operating with backing from Pakistan’s ISI. “They are now targeting railway tracks as well. In the January incident, a railway safety officer was injured after being hit by splinters,” he said.
He added that Punjab Police and Central agencies were jointly working to counter elements attempting to disturb peace and stability in the state.
Also read: Freight corridor blast: One dead, four held
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