Probe into Gyaneshwari Express derailment to be handed over to CBI

The Centre today ordered a CBI probe into Gyaneshwari Express disaster--a demand made by railway minister Mamata  Banerjee--on a day when her Trinamool Congress demolished the Left in West Bengal civic polls.

Banerjee, a key UPA leader, appeared to have had her way  since the Left Front government in West Bengal, whose concurrence was sought, had told the Centre it was not in favour of a CBI probe.

The decision to go ahead with a CBI probe was taken as the incident had taken place on railway property therefore not requiring the concurrence of a state government in such cases,
an official said.

The derailment of the Howrah-Kurla train last Saturday in which 148 passengers were killed has been blamed on Maoists.

"We have decided to hand over the case to CBI under Section 5 of Delhi Police Special Establishment Act, under which the CBI functions," the official said.

During the investigation, the CBI will be helped by the Central security agencies, Railway Protection Force and West Bengal government.

"Today the West Bengal government has conveyed to us that
they will cooperate in the investigation," the official said.

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee had alleged that there was a political conspiracy hinting at rival CPI-M behind the train derailment and said this could be unearthed only through
a CBI probe.

However, the West Bengal government said a CBI probe was
not required after its views were sought by the Union home
ministry.
    
"The CID probe has progressed a great deal and the state government does not feel that a parallel inquiry is necessary," Home Secretary Samar Ghosh on Monday.

Union home minister P Chidambaram had said that the needle of suspicion points to Maoists or front organisations of CPI Maoists.

The Section 5 of Delhi Police Special Establishment Act says that the Central Government may by order extend to any area (including Railways areas), 1[in 2[a State, not being a Union territory]] the powers and jurisdiction of member of the Delhi Special Police Establishment for the investigation of any offences or classes of offences.