Jamshedpur, Oct. 12: At night, danger lurks in these five-odd stations. Days are far from safe, with death often a trigger away. And as the authorities continue to juggle with what they call defence strategies, railway employees, passengers and policemen in the Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway remain easy targets for Naxalites.

Friday night’s murderous attack on the assistant stationmaster of Mahadevsaal was a glaring example.

Though this was the second attack on the railway station in the past six years, the brazen show of rebel power has left both railway employees and lathi-wielding policemen in this red bastion shaken. More so when they know that they lack the means and the manpower to counter a fresh attack.

Talking to The Telegraph, superintendent of railway police, Tatanagar, Mrityunjay Kumar squarely blamed the railway board for the situation.

He said after the 2002 Naxalite attack, the GRP had sent a proposal to New Delhi through the divisional railway board, urging it to notify five police stations that fall between Ghatshila and Chakradharpur stations.

“The notification would have ensured more manpower and infrastructure boost for Manoharpur, Rajkharswan, Sini, Ghatshila and Chakulia police stations — all on the Howrah-Mumbai main line. But despite repeated pleas, none of these has been notified so far,” said Kumar.

So, while railway employees spend nervous nights, a handful of lathi-wielding policemen ensure the safety of passengers on the Howrah-Mumbai main line.

Sources said the men in uniform were earlier armed with rifles, but the same was replaced by lathis following a couple of incidents of snatching.

Kumar said Manoharpur, Sini and Rajkharsawan currently function as subsidiary police stations and have skeletal staff strength.

“If notified, there will be at least 20 constables, five havildars, three assistant sub-inspectors and two sub-inspectors. Talking of infrastructure, the buildings can become two-storeyed. The first floor can be turned into a barrack, whereas the ground floor can remain what it is — a police chowki,” he said.

The barracks can house as many as 40 policemen. The more the police presence, the lesser the fear of Naxalite strikes.

“At present, there are only a few dozen men in uniform manning all five police stations in the area. Their strength is nothing compared to that of rebels who swoop on railway stations in gangs having not less than 10-12 armed members. Heavy police presence can act as a deterrent for the rebels and ensure safety of both railway employees and passengers,” said Kumar.

Meanwhile, Y.C. Sawaiya, the assistant stationmaster who sustained serious head injuries after being bludgeoned with iron rods on Friday, has been shifted to Tata Motors Hospital. His condition is said to be stable.

The Naxalite attack at Mahadevsaal has evoked sharp reaction from railway employees working at vulnerable stations such as Manoharpur, Goelkera, Sonua and Rajkharsawan. They have sought foolproof security and have said that they might have to look for “safer jobs” if their demand is not met soon.