Sept 2002 Rajdhani express mishap engineered by Maoists:Police

Patna, May 15 (UNI) A fresh probe has been initiated into the worst ever train accident of Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani express on September 9, 2002 in Aurangabad district and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad is likely to be quizzed.

The police finds this tragedy as 'genocide' for which it would also interrogate some senior officers of Indian Police Services.

In his supervision report, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Magadha range) Arvind Pandey asked Railway DIG Ajay Verma to probe into the accident to ascertain its actual cause and the groups responsible for 'engineering the carnage'. The supervision report, running into 92 pages, was submitted on May 12, he said.

In his report, Mr Pandey had raised doubts about the circumstances under which Mr Lalu Prasad,then the chief minister, issued statements ruling out involvement of Maoists in the tragedy which had claimed lives of more than 200 passengers.

The supervision report made 'startling' revelations as the spot of the accident, near Dhave bridge in Aurangabad district, was under the Sonenagar railway police station of Gaya-Mughalsarai rail division but the case was registered at Rafiganj police station which was illegal.

This apart, he said, instead of the railways, the matter was probed by the police which was against the Bihar police mannual.

Keeping in mind the provisions of the mannual the matter had been referred for a fresh probe by the railways.

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