Maoists release passenger train; passengers unharmed

Ranchi, Mar 14 (UNI) The Barwadih-Mughalsarai passenger train, seized by armed Naxals in the thick forest between Kamandih and Hehegarha railway stations in Latehar district of Jharkhand last night, was released early this morning.

Train services on the Barwadih-Barkakhana section of the Eastern-Central railway have been restored, railway sources said.

Police said the bogies of the 628-down Barkakhan-Dehri-Mugalsarai passenger train, carrying about 50 to 60 passengers, bore bullet marks but no passenger was injured or abducted.

Some empty shells were also recovered from the site, police added.

Dhanbad division railway spokesperson Amrendra Das told UNI that the driver of the train informed Railway officials over wireless that the Naxals had left the train at daybreak.

After getting permission from senior officials, the train was asked to proceed to Barka Kana.

The BDM passenger train with around 100 people on board had left Mughalsarai at around 1900 hrs.

The driver said all passengers of the train were safe, but frightened after spending nearly 12 hours in the thick jungles.

There was still no information on why they were held hostage or what the demands of the Naxals were, Mr Das said.

The train was captured in a thick forest area in between Kamandih and Henhegarha stations under the cover of darkness late last evening after the end of a dawn-to-dusk bandh, called by the CPI (Maoists) in Palamu, Garwah and Latehar districts.

The CPI (Maoist) had called the bandh after its area commander was killed in an encounter last week and one ultra was arrested.

Incidentally, the attack took place on March 12 coinciding with the completion of the BJP-led NDA State Government's one year in the saddle.

This was the first incident that the naxalites had detained a passenger train for a such long time in Jharkhand.

Senior civil and police officials had arrived at the site and launched combing operation in the area to nab the ultras.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader in the Jharkhand Assembly Shudir Mahato dashed off a letter to President A P J Abdul Kalam demanding to impose President's Rule in the state.

Mr Mahato has stated that President's Rule was the only alternative.

He alleged that the train hijack incident bore an ample testimony to the laxity in the state administration.

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