Intense vigilance in public transport
Special measures to ensure passenger safety:
Rasika Somarathna
COLOMBO: The National Transport Commission (NTC) together with the
Police have called for enhanced vigilance by all bus crew after it
launched a special awareness programme for both Private and Government
transport sectors, in the face of the mounting threat posed to public
transport from terrorist bombs.
Two terror bomb attacks on public transport were averted on Saturday
due to the vigilance of civilians and bus crew. A time bomb was found
inside a bus at Ganemulla, Kadawatha on Saturday by the bus conductor,
which was safely defused by the bomb disposal unit of the Special Task
Force (STF).
Another major disaster was averted on the same day when an alert
civilian found a bomb weighing three Kgs, planted in a bus plying from
Colombo to Moratuwa, which was later defused by the Army's Bomb Disposal
Unit.
Many lives were lost due to terrorist attacks on public transport
which has assumed greater frequency with the Tigers feeling the heat on
the Northern front after suffering a series of debacles.
According to defence authorities, the terrorists have thus resorted
to attacking soft targets such as public transport as a diversionary
tactic.
Defence Authorities yesterday described this as the greatest
challenge in their counter terrorism efforts , because of the difficulty
in identifying the culprits who posed as innocent civilians.
Authorities have decided that awareness is the key to prevent such
disasters and has taken steps to arm officials with knowledge on
identification and preventive measures. The NTC has come up with
guidelines for transport officials in an attempt to minimise the threat.
Officials involved in public transport have been advised not to leave
buses idling on roadsides or inside terminals. Passengers should be
allowed to board from the rear door and exit from the front. Placing
parcels and luggage on side racks has been prohibited and the driver and
conductor should make a thorough search and ensure that the bus is safe
before and after a journey. In addition during any emergency bus crew
have been advised to contact security officials or the emergency hotline
immediately.
According to sources bus crew and owners who fail to carry out these
guidelines are to be severely dealt with.
The Police yesterday launched a special awareness campaign in the
Pettah area targeting both the Private and State transport officials,
where in addition to the above measures they were given a comprehensive
training on detecting explosives, police said.
According to Police, bus crew have been advised to keep the rear door
closed on long journeys and also commuters should only be taken from
regular bus halting places.
In addition the Police too have been advised to carry out a special
search before departure and special squads would be deployed to carry
out searches during the journey, Police said. Meanwhile, due to the
alertness of another civilian a bomb placed near a transformer at
Madawala junction in the Wattegama police division was safely defused
yesterday.
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