Maoists attack railway tracks in four states on day two of shutdown

KOLKATA/ BHUBANESWAR/ PATNA / RANCHI - The Maoists attacked railway tracks in four states of West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand during the second day of their two-day shutdown call, which began on Monday.

The Maoists blew up a railway track between Kamandi and Chipadohar in Jharkhand’s Latehar district. They also blew up railway track between Pokpada and Dalbhumgarh, besides targeting a railway track in Ranchi district.

There are reports that the Maoists have also abducted five traders from Jharkhand’s Bokaro district.

In West Bengal, they blew up a railway track between Jhargram and Gidhni district. The Maoists had blown up a stretch of land along the railway track between Midnapore and Godapia Sal stations in West Midnapore district early on Monday morning.

The Maoists blew up a rail track in Orissa’s Sundergarh district early on Tuesday morning near Bisra station, hitting rail services in the Chakradharpur division on the Howrah-Mumbai route.

The Maoists also blew up five bogies of a goods train in Orissa, besides damaging a railway track in Bisra district.

Earlier, the Maoists blew up a railway track near Gaya derailing the New Delhi bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express on Monday night.

Passengers onboard the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express had a miraculous escape when seven of its coaches and the engine derailed near Gaya station following an explosion triggered by Maoists on Monday night.

Gaya Superintendent of Police (SP) Sushil Khopde said, “The explosive planted in the tracks between Kasta and Paraiya stations went off shortly after the train left Gaya station,” adding that there was no casualty or serious injury.

Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Neelmani said, “The initial reports suggest no casualties. All passengers are reported to be safe.”

Seven coaches and the engine of the 2445 up Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express jumped the tracks due to the impact of the blast.

CPRO Eastern Railway said the passengers were later taken to Mughalsarai by a rescue train from where a special train was arranged to send them to New Delhi.

The Dhanbad-Gaya intercity has been cancelled following the blast.

At least three trains have been cancelled and over 17 diverted to avoid further attacks.

The shutdown is in protest against the Union Budget, which the rebels claim is anti-poor and prepared under the dictates of the World Bank. (ANI)