New Delhi/Patna: Suspected Maoists attacked a passenger train in Bihar’s Jamui district yesterday, killing a railway police personnel and two passengers.
“Three people, including a constable of RPF (Railway Protection Force) and two passengers, were killed in a Maoist attack on the Patna-bound inter-city train in Jamui,” said Jamalpur Superintendent of Police (Rail) Amitabh Das.
Half a dozen people were injured in the attack, said Das.
According to district police officials in Jamui, about 180km from Patna, nearly 100 armed Maoists attacked the train between Bhului and Kunder railway halts. Jamui is considered a Maoist stronghold.
“Maoists stopped the train by forcibly applying the vacuum brake and opened indiscriminate fire in which two railway police personnel and some passengers were injured. Three of them, including a RPF personnel, succumbed to their injuries,” said an official.
Additional Director General of Police SK Bhardwaj said in Patna that the Maoists also looted some ammunition and two rifles from the RPF personnel. “The main motive of the Maoists’ attack was to loot arms of the RPF escort party,” he said.
Bihar police chief Abhyanand has directed the rail police and district police of Jamui and neighbouring districts to launch combing operations against the Maoists.
Railway ministry sources in New Delhi said the train, which was detained for around one hour and 15 minutes, had since moved to its destination and rail traffic was normal on the route.
Railway Minister CP Joshi announced ex-gratia payment of Rs500,000 to the kin of those killed, Rs100,000 to a passenger who was grievously injured and Rs25,000 each to four people (three passengers and train guard) who received minor injuries.
IANS
