Jharkhand: Railway alert as Maoist rebels plan to target Kolkata-Mumbai superfast train

JAMSHEDPUR: The state security machinery is on high alert after intelligence reports about a CPI (Maoist) conspiracy to detonate explosives on a railway track and target the Howrah-Mumbai Gitanjali superfast train. The intelligence input was given by Jamshedpur Rail SP Ethesham Vakarib to the railway police of Chakradharpur division on Tuesday.

Vakarib informed the divisional railway that Maoists are planning to blow up the train at Mahalimurup station, between Sini and Raj Kharsawan sections in West Singhbhum district between October 8 and October 11. Notably, the entire stretch between Ghatshila station and Rourkela station on the Howrah-Mumbai line has been put on alert and intensive patrolling is being carried out.

According to intelligence reports, a squad of 20 rebels, including women, from Jhinkpani, Kuchai and Kharsawan are camping in the forest areas of Kuchai along the border with Khunti. Three suspected Maoists, identified as Maheswar Mahali, Ranjit Mahali and Shahani, have prepared the plan and are leading the squad. Vakarib said: "The security preparedness will not be limited to the October 11 time period and will continue for the next few days."

Vakarib added that the threat letter was recovered by the government railway police on October 7 and the divisional railway and district police was intimated on October 8. "We are verifying the authenticity of the letter, but we are also prepared for any development," he added.

Devraj Mourya, senior commandant of the divisional railway security, has written to senior divisional officials for effective coordination between all agencies concerned to take utmost care for the safety and security in the target area. On Thursday, railways ran a freight train and pilot engines to escort coach trains between Sini and Manoharpur stations as a precautionary measure and has announced to follow it up over the next few days.