Friday, June 16 2006 17:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Police in Jharkhand have proposed wire fencing along selected portions of rail tracks to protect trains from Maoist attacks.

Jharkhand police submitted a detailed proposal to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to combat the Maoist threat.

"Our proposal to RPF suggests wire fencing along different railway tracks which are vulnerable to Maoist attacks. We have suggested that the wire fencing be first undertaken in a 22-km stretch from Barwadih to Latehar in Latehar district," a senior police official told sources.

"The Barwadih to Lathear stretch is one of the most inaccessible areas for the police and Maoists take advantage of this to attack the railways, especially goods trains. The fencing will help the police in escorting trains without fear of a Maoist ambush," he said.

It also proposes that the railways develop parallel pathways along the tracks by clearing the forest cover.

"The forest cover along tracks helps Maoists to target railway tracks and trains," said a police official involved in anti-extremist operation," he said.

"The proposal stresses on problems faced by the state police while protecting railway property and tracks," the official said.

Officials point out that keeping police outposts in remote areas to help the railways would not be a wise decision as such outposts can be attacked by the Maoists anytime.

There are half a dozen railway stations located in inaccessible areas in Jharkhand where Maoists strike and blow up buildings.

Maoist rebels are active in 16 of the 22 districts of the state.