NEW DELHI: In a daring and dramatic incident, Maoists took hostage one of India’s most prestigious trains — the Bhubaneshwar-Delhi Rajdhani Express — somewhere in the forests in Orissa.
The Naxalites sent armed people for the operation and demanded the withdrawal of troops deployed for the war on Naxalites and release of Naxal leader Chattradhar Mahato. The central government rushed the Central Reserve Police Force which, along with the Orissa Police, secured the train. Although the passengers were safe, the entire train was ransacked by the attackers.
Union Home Minister P. Chidam-baram announced the end of the hostage drama. All the 400 passengers on the train were safe.
Not willing to score any political point at the moment, Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee chose to accord the top most priority to the safety of the passengers. Banerjee rushed the Accident Relief Train with a team of doctors and medicines to look after those injured in the firing.
Mahato, the leader of People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities, was arrested on Sept. 26 near Lalgarh in West Bengal. He had been missing since June and stands accused of lending Maoist support to the tribals in the area to help them take control of Lalgarh.
Tension has been running high here since November, 2008, when a land mine blast seemed to target West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
As the police started raiding homes in the area, tribals alleged their rights had been violated and asked the police to apologize.
Intellectuals in Kolkata are supporting Mahato and have accused the police and the state government of not having enough evidence against him.
This incident comes close on the heels of West Bengal government choosing to free 22 Naxal leaders in return for the safe release of a West Bengal police officer.
After the swap, Bhattacharjee expressed regret and vowed to deal with the Naxals with zero tolerance.
