News
Armed guards on trains to prevent attacks
View(s):By Kasun Warakapitiya
Armed Railway guards were deployed on the Jaffna-bound train yesterday after a series of attacks including Friday’s tragedy where a passenger was killed when he was hit by a bottle thrown at the Vavuniya-bound train.
Railways General Manger B.A.P Ariyaratna said yesterday that the Railways took this decision after a series of attacks, including an incident where a train passenger, an education officer, was killed when he was hit by a bottle which was thrown at the train.
Mr. Ariyaratna said that from Friday, the Railways had deployed two armed Railway guards on each long-distance train. He said the Railways believed an organised gang was behind these attacks and the main targets were long-distance trains.
The Railways security division and the Police are carrying out investigations to arrest the suspect who threw the bottle at the Vavuniya-bound train at Orugodawatte.
Railways Security Chief Anura Premaratne said that after the war ended more people were using trains to travel to the North and this was a big loss to private transport operators. He said the Defence Ministry had given the Railways security the authority to use weapons for the safety of travellers and self-defence.