The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has allowed women to carry small knives in while commuting in metro trains, reports The Hindu.

A senior CISF officer said that women will be allowed to carry knives less than four inches, "We realised that small knives are not a threat to security but required by women for their protection.”

Apart from the small knife, women can also take lighters and matchboxes with them in the metro trains. However, they can carry only one lighter or one matchbox.

The decision was taken as hundreds of these items were seized from passengers during daily screening. Labourers too filed several applications stating inconvenience caused to them due to the restrictions.

The officials will maintain a register of the tools so the owners can be traced if needed.

The order to allow the objects in the metro trains was given by CISF in September last year after reviewing the security threat each item posed for commuters.