Title - Bomb hoax puts GRP and RPF at Madurai Junction on tenterhooks

Madurai: Police teams from Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force jointly carried out a search operation in Madurai junction as well as on three trains passing through on Wednesday after the Vaigai Express that originates from Madurai was searched in Trichy junction followed by a bomb threat call.

The search was carried out between 11am and 1.30pm covering entire station premises and trains that passed through the junction during that time.

The 15 member GRP team led by DSP C Vellaiyan and ten-member team of RPF led by its DSP Gnanasekaran carried out the operation and dog squad and bomb disposal squad were also pressed into service. The teams combed Guruvayur Express that reached Madurai Junction by 11.15 am, Nagercoil – Mumbai Express by 11.45 am and Nagercoil – Coimbatore passenger that reached around 1 pm. However they didn’t found any suspicious objects during the search, the officials said.

DSP C Vellaiyan said that they carried out the operation as a precautionary measure since the Trichy station received the threat call. “We took out the operation as a safety measure and thoroughly combed the entire station premises including the parcel office. The trains which were passing through the junction during that time frame were also searched,” he said. Though the junction has not received any threat calls, the operation was carried out to ensure that the safety of the trains and junction. The search operation has not delayed any train services, the officials said.