Patna: Railway security has been placed on high alert after an unauthorized CCTV camera was found installed at gate number 43 of Sarai railway station in the Sonepur railway division in Vaishali district. The suspicious installation, allegedly carried out by unidentified persons, has triggered a major probe by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) amid concerns over possible terror links.Around 2pm on May 7 when gateman Santosh Kumar, who was on duty at level crossing 43, noticed two unidentified men installing a CCTV camera on the western height gauge pole. The duo fled immediately after placing the device. Santosh promptly informed station superintendent Manoj Kumar Singh, who alerted railway IG (ECR) Amresh Kumar and Muzaffarpur Rail SP Beena Kumari.During inspection, officials found a small camera fitted with a solar panel mounted nearly 10 feet high on the western pole of the gate. Verification by RPF sub-inspector Bipin Kumar confirmed the device was not part of any authorized railway surveillance network and had been installed illegally without permission.Manoj told TOI on Saturday that the gateman acted swiftly, following which RPF personnel reached the spot and removed the camera within 10 minutes.“During inspection of the seized camera, its internal footage reportedly showed the image of a terrorist, Yaseen Bhat, main accused in Akshardham Temple attack. This discovery prompted authorities to explore a possible international angle, including unconfirmed links to terrorists,” he said.“An FIR has been registered at Govt Railway Police, Muzaffarpur, on Friday. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been informed amid suspicions of a possible international connection and terrorist link,” Manoj said.He added CCTV footage from nearby areas showed two suspects arriving on a motorcycle.“The person riding in front was wearing a helmet, while the pillion rider had his face covered. The registration number of the motorcycle could not be captured. The visuals from nearby cameras were not entirely clear, limiting immediate identification,” he said.The seized equipment included a solar-powered camera with stand, Active Pixel ID and IMEI details, a sim card, a 32GB microSD card and a small solar plate measuring around 10×6 inches.Beena said a formal investigation had been launched on the basis of a complaint.“Efforts are underway to identify the suspects and ascertain the purpose behind installing the camera at the railway crossing,” she said.
