HYDERABAD, 26 December 2005 — Three constables of the Railway Protection Force were killed and several injured when Maoists attacked a train carrying railroad money in Vizianagaram district in the southern Andhra Pradesh state yesterday.
Vizianagaram Deputy Superintendent of Police Bhavana Saxena told Arab News by telephone that the train that was on its way from Vijayawada city in south coastal Andhra to Rayagada town in neighboring Orissa state was ambushed around noon.
“At the Koneru railroad station near Parvathipuram town, the Maoists numbering about 10 surrounded the train and opened fire. Some of the RPF personnel, who were traveling by the same train, got off the train and fired back. In the brief exchange of fire, three RPF personnel, including a head constable and two constables, died on the spot,” the officer said.
Three other RPF constables were injured. Some civilians were also hurt in the shootout. Police said two Maoists were also injured but they managed to escape.
The Maoists looted 1.5 million rupees in cash, according to preliminary estimates, the police said.
The injured RPF personnel and civilians were shifted to the government hospital at Parvathipuram for treatment. According to unofficial sources, another RPF constable succumbed to injuries at the hospital, taking the toll to four. Unofficial sources also put the loot at five million rupees.
Apparently, the Maoists had information that the RPF personnel were carrying huge cash with them in the train. Those on board have been disbursing salaries and festival advances to RPF personnel at train stations all along the route.
On receipt of information about the ambush, top railroad and police officials rushed to the spot. “A case has been registered by the railway police. We have launched combing operations to apprehend the Maoists,” Saxena said.
There has been a recent spike in guerrilla attacks in eastern and southern India that has killed dozens of people. Maoist insurgents, who number about 9,300, say they are fighting for the rights of the rural poor and against feudal landowners and local officials who siphon off aid. Critics accuse them of being little more than criminals.
