West Bengal CM blames Maoists for train accident

Kolkata, May 28 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee on Friday blamed Maoists for the train accident in West Bengal's West Midnapore District, in which at least 65 people were killed and over 150 injured.

"Maoists are responsible for this. Railway Police and West Bengal Police are carrying out rescue operations there. As of now 48 people have been killed and several are injured," said Bhattacharjee, adding that the injured have been admitted to different state government hospitals.

The Chief Minister further said the state government is working in tandem with railway authorities to help the victims, and added that it was also working to restructure the state police to combat the Maoists more effectively.

"We are, accordingly, trying to reorganize our police forces, and trying to confront them. This information came to us that they would be observing some week. But we had no idea that they are going to do this dastardly crime against innocent people, innocent passengers," said Bhattacharjee.

"This is very unfortunate. The task of confronting them would be difficult, but the job has to be done. The forces would be sensitised to do the needful in this regard," he added.

Thirteen bogies of the ill-fated express train were derailed near Jhargram in West Bengal's West Midnapore District at 1.30 am following several blasts suspected to have been triggered by the Maoists.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai has confirmed the death of 65 people, saying the toll might go up. (ANI)