Mamata To Seek CBI Enquiry Into UP Train Collision

Mathura: With conflicting reports on the cause of train accident near here, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to go for a CBI investigation into the mishap.

“Realizing the gravity of the accident, I decided it is better to go for a CBI probe,” Banerjee told reporters last night, during a visit to the crash site Samparkranti Goa Mewar Express.

Twenty-two people were killed and many injured in the accident yesterday.

She said: “Many questions have arisen. Someone is saying that the chain drive is the reason for the accident and others say there was a problem with the signal. It may be a case of crime also. Therefore, I decided that we to deliver the case to the CBI. ”

The Minister said that if trains a crime has been committed by any person, there must be strict measures against them and “therefore, we will deliver the case to the CBI”.

“We are in favor of discussing all issues. It was a very bad incident. We want to ensure the punishment of all guilty,” said Banerjee.

Passengers Released by Naxals on Train

NEW DELHI: The hostage crisis on board a train at Latehar in Jharkhand has ended with the Naxalites releasing the passengers. All the passengers are believed to be safe. Negotiations are on with the Naxalites on telephone. The train will now go to Daltonganj railway station in Palamau.

Early on Wednesday, Naxalites took a passenger train with 700 people on board, hostage, striking yet again ahead of the second phase of Lok Sabha polls

The train was going from Barkakana in Jharkhand to Mugalsarai in UP when it was hijacked at around 7-7.30am near Hehegarha railway station in Jharkhand’s Latehar district.

Unconfirmed reports claim there were around 200 Naxals who boarded the Gomo-Mogulsarai BDM passenger train.

3-4 helicopters and Railway Protection Force were pressed into action to control the situation. Additional forces were also rushed to the spot.

The train, with nine coaches, “is packed to capacity. Each coach has a capacity of 70 to 80 passengers and people were even standing on the footboards of the coaches,” Railway PRO in Dhanbad, Amerendra Das said, indicating that there were nearly 700 passengers in the train.

“As per our information, all the passengers are safe and unharmed,” he said.

There have been several attacks across Jharkhand and Bihar today after Naxalites called for a 24-hour bandh which started at midnight to boycott polls in the two states.

Earlier on Wednesday, suspected Naxalites killed a truck driver and set ablaze nine trucks in Bihar’s Gaya district and bombed a block office in Aurangabad district, police said. ( Watch )

Over 100 armed Maoists attacked trucks on the busy Grand Trunk Road near Barachatti in Gaya, about 100 km from here, at around 12.30am. They forcibly stopped the trucks at gun point and torched nine of the vehicles.

A truck driver, Lakshman Yadav, was shot dead while trying to escape with his truck.

A group of armed Maoists also bombed the Dev block development office in Aurangabad district, which is about 50 km from Gaya.

“They used explosives. The building was badly damaged,” said Gaya Superintendent of Police M.R. Naik.

“We have received information about violence by Maoists in Gaya and Aurangabad districts. Security reinforcements have been sent there,” said Bihar police chief D N Gautam.

The Delhi-Ranchi Rajdhani Express earlier today had a narrow escape when Naxalites blasted the railway track at Uttari in Palamau district after which the train was diverted.

On April 15 nine people, including security personnel, were killed in a landmine blast. In retaliation, security men killed five people suspected to be Naxalites. Naxalites however claim the people killed were villagers and are demanding compensation. They also want the security personnel involved in the attack to be arrested.

At least 16 people were killed in Naxalite violence during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls on April 16.

Grenade Attack on Train in Assam 1 killed

Maibong : At least one person was killed and 10 others injured when a grenade was thrown at a passenger train in North Cachar Hills District on Friday.

According to reports, Dima Halam Daogah- Jewel (DHD-J) rebels targeted the Barak Valley Express as it arrived at Wadringdisa station in the hills district.

The injured have been admitted to a hospital, in which the condition of two is said to be serious.