Six killed in a blast in Haldibari passenger in North Bengal

Siliguri/Kolkata, Nov 20 (UNI) At least six people were killed and 60 injured, 25 of them critically, when a major explosion, triggered by suspected ultras, ripped through the general compartment (GS 8321) of Haldibari Passenger train under North Eastern Frontier (NF) Railway sector North Bengal this evening.

State Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said it was a powerful explosion and seemed to be the handiwork of the militants.

Asked if he suspected the named of the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) outfit, which has links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), Mr Roy said that it ''did look It looks like the handiwork of a militant organisation.'' ''We are trying to get the details. It has to be ascertained if the bomb was planted on board or it was a suicide bomb attack,'' he added.

Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told UNI that the passenger train was en-route to New Jalpaiguri from Haldibari in Cooch Behar.

The blast occurred at Benakowa station, 18 km from New Jalpaiguri, he said, adding the involvement of any particular militant group or the nature of device was yet to be ascertained.

The injured had been admitted to Jalpaiguri Sadar hospital, where the condition of 25 passengers was stated to be critical.

Senior police and railway officials have rushed to the spot.

A special team comprising IB and CID officials had also rushed to the blast site to investigate the explosion, Mr Kanojia added.

A massive alert has been sounded throughout North Bengal following the blast and a team of state government officials had rushed to the spot.

Rescue and relief operation was going on in full swing with the arrival of medical teams from Siliguri Medical College.

Train services on the route have been suspended.

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (Jalpaiguri) S Pujari said bomb disposal squad had been sent to the site to ascertain the nature of the substance responsible for the blast..

UNI Team SJC VD KP2119