None was injured in train capturing: Lalu

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today told the Lok Sabha that the Mugalsarai-Barkakhana passenger train, which was captured by Naxalites in Jharkhand last night, had started for its destination and none was injured in the incident.

The movement of trains on the route was now normal, he said in a suo motu statement made on capturing of the train in Jharkhand.

The Minister said Naxalites had given a call for a bandh in Jharkhand yesterday. The Mugalsarai-Barkakhana 628 Down train was detained by armed Naxalites at Hehegarah railway station last evening. They threatened to kill the engine driver if he moved the train and slightly damaged the engine.

When the train did not reach Kumundi railway station at the scheduled time, then the driver of the goods train going in that direction was sent in search of the train. As the goods train reached the spot, the Naxalites stoned the goodstrain too.

The Divisional Railway Manager thereupon stopped the movement of trains to and fro on both tracks and the district administration was informed of the incident.

By the time a CRPF and a RPF squad reached Kumundi railway station this morning, the Naxalites had fled from the station. The passenger train started its onward journey at 0700 hrs today, the Railway Minister said, adding none was injured in the incident.

UNI YS RL GC1611