Indian train with 700 passengers seized by Maoists in Jharkhand
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, April 22, IRNA -- Ahead of second phase of Lok Sabha polls, Maoists on Wednesday seized a train with nearly 700 passengers on board in Jharkhand's Latehar district and triggered blasts in the state and adjoining Bihar during a bandh (strike) called by them.
The Maoists stopped the Gomo-Mogulsarai BDM train this morning near Hehegarha railway station in Latehar district and 'have taken over the train', Deputy Commission Sarvendu Tathagat told reporters here in Latehar, about 125 kms from Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, PTI rteported.
"The train, with nine coaches, 'is packed to capacity'. Each coach has a capacity of 70 to 80 passengers and people were even standing on the footboards of the coaches," Railway PRO in Dhanbad, Amerendra Das said, indicating that there are nearly 700 passengers in the train.
"As per our information, all the passengers are safe and unharmed," he said.
The Naxalites have given a call for a 24-hour Jharkhand-Bihar bandh, which started at midnight last night, in protest against the killing of some of their cadres during recent encounters with security forces.
In widespread violence during the first phase of Lok Sabha elections, 19 security force personnel were killed in planned attacks by the Maoists in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar.
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