Maoist supporters seize Rajdhani, abduct drivers

The country’s east turned into the Wild West on Tuesday when members of a Maoist-backed group seized the Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and held more than 800 passengers hostage at Banshtola station near West Midnapore, West Bengal, for more than six hours.

The People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA) also “kidnapped” the drivers of the train, but released them later. The train was, however, secured after dusk by the CRPF and the state police. All passengers were safe.

The PCPA sought the release of Maoist leader Chhatradhar Mahato, a demand that was rejected by West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Santosh Patra, who has taken over the PCPA’s leadership after the arrest of Mahato, denied that the drivers were kidnapped or harmed. They were taken away because they “flouted the rail roko”, PTI quoted him as saying.

Maoist leader Kishenji denied involvement in the attack.

"We were not involved in the kidnap. Neither did we call a bandh. The PCPA has called a bandh which we support,” he said, adding that “they want [railway minister] Mamata Banerjee to come and listen to their problems”.

Armed with axes, swords, bows and arrow, more than 400 PCPA activists attacked the air-conditioned train the moment it crossed Jhargram at around 3pm. “The train was passing through a densely forested patch when a large mob attacked it with stones,” said Susanta Das, who was on board the Rajdhani Express.

“All of us were asked to get down which we did. We thought they would loot us. But they did not harm anybody after we followed their orders,” Das, a wildlife enthusiast, told PTI.
As news of the incident spread, police and two companies of paramilitary forces rushed to the area and surrounded the train. Officials said the PCPA members fled after the security forces arrived.

There was firing at some distance from where the train came to halt and one civilian was injured, officials said.

Around 7.30pm, home minister P Chidambaram said the train had been secured. “The train is safe. All passengers are safe,” he told reporters, adding that a relief train has been despatched to carry the passengers to safety.

Mamata Banerjee, however, found herself in an awkward position. She first denied Maoist hand in the incident, but had to retract the statement later. “We are ready to talk to anybody. But such incidents are unfortunate. The railways is a public utility and has nothing to do with politics,” she added.

What added to her embarrassment was the graffiti on the trains which claimed her as a “true friend to Santal brothers and sisters”, lending credence to the Left parties’ assertion that Banerjee was sympathetic to cause of the Maoists.

Paramilitary forces blamed the incident on intelligence failure. “This could have been prevented. The Maoists had called for a bandh and this incident should have been expected,” an officer said.

The situation in West Bengal has become demonstrably grave if a premier train like the Rajdhani with hundreds of passengers can be held hostage for so many hours. This time round, there was no loss of life but the portents for the state are ominous.
—With inputs from agencies