Rajdhani passengers safe, train leaves for Delhi

ALL CLEAR: Security experts conducted an intense check of the Rajdhani for any explosive devices before the train left.

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Jhargram/Kolkata/New Delhi: A New Delhi-bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express was released from Maoist clutches by security forces on Tuesday evening, after rebels detained it and its 667 passengers for over four hours in West Midnapore district. All passengers are safe, the Union Government said.

Demanding withdrawal of the joint security forces and release of some of their arrested leaders, around 500 members of the Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) held up the 2443A UP Express train by squatting on the tracks and forced out the drivers around 1445 hours IST at the Banstala Halt station, near Jhargram station close to the Antapani jungle. Jhargram is 155 km from Kolkata by train.

After several tension-filled hours that saw a police team rushing to the spot ambushed by the Left wing rebels, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and state policemen finally took over the train around 1900 hours IST.

Home Minister P Chidambaram announced the end of the security operation in New Delhi.

"The CRPF and the state police have reached the spot and the train has been secured," Chidambaram said.

Escorted by a pilot engine, the train, freed by security forces, moved from the Banstala Halt station. Police sources said the green signal for the train to chug out of the station was given only after security experts conducted an intense check of the tracks and the train for any explosive devices the Maoist might have planted.

Before decamping the Left-wing extremists had pasted posters on the train demanding the release of arrested Maoist-backed tribal body People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) leader Chhattradhar Mahato.

Chidambaram denied reports that there was any exchange of fire with the guerrillas.

"I would like the media to show some restraint. Don't report rumours. A civilian driver has been injured. There was no exchange of fire. No CRPF person has been injured," he said.

State Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh said in Kolkata, "My men have reached there. They have entered the train. There is no sign of the Maoists now".

The drama started soon after the train left the Jhargram station.

"A group of men stood on the railway tracks and stopped the train. They asked all of us in the driver's cabin to get down and wait near the engine. They did not beat us up, but asked us not to run the train till they gave the green signal," said K Govind Rao, the assistant driver of the New Delhi-bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express.