After the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express was recently held up by tribals allegedly backed by Maoists in West Bengal, the Railways Ministry has dug out an old recommendation made by a high-level committee comprising officers from the National Security Guard & Intelligence Bureau. The committee wanted Railways to conduct security sensitisation of Commercial & Traffic personnel on a compulsory basis. Generally inclined to shift the onus of law and order on state governments, this time the Rail Bhavan promptly came out with an order directing ticket checking staff to be prepared for “emergent situations that may prop up” during running of trains. Railways also want ticket checking staff to be the eyes and ears of the Railways Protection Force and to keep them posted about suspicious passenger behaviour and doubtful objects. The ministry, however, had no answers on why the RPF strength had not been increased for years despite repeated announcements by successive ministers.