Blast threat leaves govt, railway officials jittery

WHILE THE threat to blow off Ghaziabad, Moradabad and Rampur railway stations turned out to be a hoax, a similar threat to the Sitapur railway station left the State Government and the railway authorities jittery here on Monday.

It was on Sunday that the GRP and railway officials had heaved a sigh of relief after grilling Anwar Husain, a resident of Mashaqganj locality under Wazirganj police station here. Anwar helped the cops to unravel the mystery behind threats to railway stations in Western UP.

The GRP teams from Ghaziabad, Moradabad and Rampur had arrived here on Monday and quizzed Anwar only to learn that it was a hoax. A letter bearing the signature and photograph of Anwar had reached GRP offices in Ghaziabad, Moradabad and Rampur on March 18. The letter asked the authorities either to hand over Rs 10 crore to Anwar by May or he would trigger off major blasts at these stations. The letter sent the senior officials in a tizzy and they ordered a probe into it. Meanwhile, Anwar saw his photograph beamed by news channel with details of the letter. Seeing this he went to the local police station immediately.

He told the cops about his innocence and the police in turn intimated their GRP counterparts. Anwar doubted that the mischief  was handiwork of one Sarang Saxena. Anwar had recently lodged an FIR against Saxena. The GRP later returned after quizzing Anwar and corroborating the facts today.

Meanwhile, principal secretary (Home) Alok Sinha today stated that orders were issued to top cops to initiate action into the info shared by railway authorities regarding blast at the Sitapur railway station. Sinha further stated that DGP UP, ADG Security and ADG, Railways have been asked to probe the matter and initiate prompt action.