Like Goa’s porous borders, even the railway station in Vasco which is a gateway into the state lacks proper security arrangements. There are high chances that the station which is used by hundreds of passengers on a daily basis could be an easy target for anti-social or terror outfits.
A Herald team visited the station and noticed that security was well below par. Railway police are deployed at the station depending on availability. Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are also stationed depending on availability. However, instead of maintaining a round the clock vigil, the station is manned only during the arrival and departure of trains. “We intensify our vigil at the station when trains leave or arrive as there aren’t too many people on the platforms otherwise,” confirmed a railway police staff, requesting anonymity.
One of the most worrisome facts about the railway station is that there are numerous access points to get to the platforms. There was a door frame metal detector installed at the main entrance (DFMD) installed at the main entrance but the same was removed last month and there has been no replacement for it yet. The metal detector at the second entry/exit point (near the current ticket booking office) also remains unmanned all the time, which means that anyone can enter or exit at any time. “As per availability of staff, we deploy security personnel at the station. If we have four staff, we keep one at the DFMD. Otherwise, there is no one there because other areas require surveillance,” said an anonymous RPF official.
A CCTV camera system was installed inside and outside the station as per the guidelines of the railway board in order to maintain tight security and prevent crimes and terrorist activity. But the malfunctioning of the system is a serious concern.
In the month of January, Vasco railway police apprehended one Sameer Sardana under suspicion. Taking serious note of the security lapses, Vasco DySp and SDPO, Sucheta B Desai held a series of meetings with RPF officials as well as with the Vasco railway police and issued a set of directions on February 4th 2016.
She gave directions to enhance security and access control at the station by maintaining a round the clock vigil at both the entry/exit points and other points which can be used to gain access into the station.
After receiving these directions, for a few weeks, the RPF and Vasco police ensured joint patrolling at the station. However, slowly things went back to the usual and currently the situation has reverted to what it was earlier, with no patrolling or security.
Desai, in her order maintained that a lot of staff get busy using their mobile phones and in the process, keep their posts open and unmanned. If one visits the station today, this will be able to be observed.
Herald brought the issue to the notice of Desai and showed her pictures of the security lapses as well. She said, “It is quite serious and this cannot be tolerated. Policemen at the station are supposed to be keeping a vigil at the station at all times and not just when a train arrives or leaves. Action will be taken against the defaulting staff.”
To make matters worse, the station doesn’t even have a baggage scanner or anyone to check the bags of passengers who have the liberty to carry whatever they want. The DFMD doesn’t function half the time either. The shortage of RPF staff and the inactivity of railway police all contribute to the lapse in security at the station. With the various threats of terrorism all over the country, Vasco is an easy entry point for anti-social elements to gain access to the state.