Odisha Train Mishap: CBI Team Grills Suspect Jr Engineer For 6 Hours

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating into the Odisha triple train accident, has interrogated the railway's Signal Junior Engineer (JE) Amir Khan, one of the suspects in the incident, as it continues with its probe into the horrific tragedy.

The ghastly train accident that occurred at Bahanaga railway station near Balasore on June 2 claimed the lives of around 300 passengers and left over a thousand injured, many of them seriously. The injured passengers are undergoing treatment at the AIIMS in Bhubaneswar.

According to reports, a CBI team reached Khan's house located near Annapurna Rice Mill in Soro, and questioned him about the sequence of events that took place just before the accident as he was the Signal JE in Soro section and the accident site comes under him. According to reports, the interrogation went on for more than 6 hours.

Earlier reports suggested that when the team went to Khan's house, they found it locked and sealed it as they failed to ascertain the whereabout of Khan and his family. However, a railway spokesperson has dismissed the reports. In a tweeted video, he clarified that no such thing has happened and none of the railway staff has gone absconding.

https://twitter.com/SpokespersonIR/status/1671056830435569670?s=20

After taking over the probe on June 6, the CBI team conducted an on-the-spot investigation and left Balasore on June 16. However, they returned yesterday and visited the station master's house. The investigating agency is said to have deputed two sleuths to keep a watch on the house, according to a news agency report.

Electronic interlocking systems installed at the stations provide vital information about the status of the trains. Railway officials had raised suspicions of deliberate sabotage. They insisted that the train accident was possibly a result of tampering by "deliberate interference with the electronic interlocking system."

The needle of suspicion obviously points to the Signal JE as he is the one responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing the signalling equipment, including point machines, interlocking systems and signals, etc. In short, they play a vital role in ensuring train operations run smoothly and safely.

In a report, Times of India quoted Khurda DRM Rinkesh Roy as saying, "You get green signal only after fulfilling all the pre-conditions such as whether the route is set and everything is right. Even if there is a minor problem, technically, there cannot be a green signal in any circumstance; it becomes red. It can't go green unless and until someone has tampered with it, someone has physically tempered with it."

After the allegations of tampering with the electronic interlocking system came to the fore and suspicion of a criminal intent behind the incident grew, the investigation was handed over to the CBI. According to a media report, five railway employees, including Khan, are under CBI's radar now. The CBI has already filed an FIR in the matter.

As soon as it began its investigation, the CBI seized the log book, relay panel and other equipment and sealed the station. The relay interlocking panel was also sealed. This blocked the access of personnel to the signal system. Hence, it was decided that no passenger or goods train will stop at Bahanaga station until further notice.