5 killed in blast in Rajdhani Express

Five persons were killed and four others received serious injuries when a powerful bomb planted on the tracks went off under the Rajdhani Express in Golaghat district.  Though the identity of the militants responsible for the blast is yet to be ascertained, police sources claimed that militants belonging to the Adivasi National Liberation Army (ANLA) were involved in the incident. According to an agency report, the ANLA has also claimed the responsibility for the blast.

The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the NF Railway, T Rabha informed that the blast took place under the luggage van of the 2423 A Down Rajdhani Express proceeding from Dibrugarh to Guwahati between Naojan and Chongajan railway stations in Golaghat district at around 1.06 am. The blast damaged the luggage van, which resulted in the death of five persons. Three of those killed were thrown off the coach and the bodies were later recovered from the tracks.

Those killed in the blast have been identified as Sudama Rai, aged 25, Lakhshmi Rai (25), SP Prasad (24), AK Shah (20) and D Prasad (19). All of them had boarded the train in the New Tinsukia Railway station. Rabha said that the Railways normally allow passengers to travel from Dibrugarh to Guwahati in the luggage van in second-class tickets. Four passengers were seriously injured in the blast and they have been identified as Lakhsmi Shad, aged 30 years, who boarded the train in Tinsukia, Pradeep Choudhury, aged 30 of Tinsukia, Amarnath Singh, aged around 40 years of Tinsukia and Tapas Roy, aged 30 of Chabua. They have been shifted to Dimapur civil hospital for treatment and their condition is stated to be critical.

Rabha said that the train was not derailed and proceeded to Chongajan. He said that the remaining 31 passengers travelling in that coach were accommodated in other coaches and the train left Chongajan to Guwahati early this morning. The down Rajdhani Express, which was scheduled to leave Guwahati for New Delhi at 7 am left only at 11.15 am.

The CPRO said that the blast caused a 1.8 metre wide and 0.82 metre deep crater on the track and train running had to be suspended for hours. The police, after preliminary investigation, gave the security clearance to the Railways to start the repair works at around 4.25 am and the line was repaired for train movement at 6.45 am. Several major trains including the UP Inter City Express, UP and Down Brahmaputra Mail, Kamrup Express etc were delayed because of the blast, he added. Narrating the incident, Rupam Kumar Borthakur, a passenger said that they were jolted by a deafening sound, which was followed by another sound as if something was breaking up. “The first sound was that of the blast while the second was a peculiar sound, emanating probably from the breaking up of the compartments,” he said. Barthakur said that the train finally stopped at the Chungajan station, about 2.5 km from the point where the blast took place. “The blast created panic, and to make matters worse, no RPF men were there. It is regrettable that a train like the Rajdhani should not have the minimum security arrangements. There should be a thorough security revamp of the Rajdhani, and the SLR bogies need to be stopped,” he said.

Meawhile, the Centre has sent a team of officials to Guwahati to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the bomb blast in the Rajdhani Express. Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta called up Chief Secretary PK Sarma to enquire into the incident. He asked the Chief Secretary to beef up security measures all over the State. The team will assist in investigation.

The Centre is apprehensive of the internal security situation in the State taking a turn for the worse ahead of the panchayat polls. The recent turmoil involving the Adivasis has added to the Centre’s anxiety. The Centre apprehend that militant outfits mainly the ULFA, which has been lying low following sustained operations against them, might join hands with the armed Adivasi outfits to create fresh troubles in the State.

Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister has condemned blast in the Rajdhani Express in Assam.

“I am deeply anguished to learn about the blast in the Rajdhani Express in Assam. I convey my sympathies to those killed and pray for speedy recovery of those injured in the incident. People of our country understand the designs of terrorists and will not be cowed down by such incidents. The State Government and Railways will take necessary steps to provide protection to passengers and see that such incidents do not recur. Necessary assistance in this respect will be extended to them,” he added.

The NF Railways have adopted a set of new security measures to prevent sabotage of passenger trains by militant groups in the wake of the blast under the Rajdhani Express on the night of December 12, which resulted in the death of five persons. The Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of the NF Railways, T Rabha informed that RPF and RPSF personnel would now be deployed for security of the railway tracks to prevent any sabotage attempt by the militants. He said that every passenger train would now be preceded by either a goods train or light engine or a motor trolley to keep the tracks occupied as far as possible. He pointed out that increasing of the occupancy of the tracks would make it difficult for anyone to plant explosives. He said that armed mobile units of the RPF and RPSF would intensify patrolling of the tracks round the clock.

The CPRO said that though normally it is the duty of the State Government to maintain law and order, the Railways on its own decided to introduce the new security drill to supplement the efforts of the State police, Government Railway Police and the Central paramilitary forces.

The year 2007 turned out to be a bad year for the NF Railway because of frequent attacks by the militant groups. According to records available, the Railways faced as many as ten blasts in different parts of Assam so far this year. Railway sources said that the first blast of the year took place between Diphu and Daldali railway stations on January 6, but fortunately there was no casualty in the explosion that took place on the tracks. That was followed by a blast in the New Bongaigaon railway station on January 21, in which five persons were injured. On the very next day, another blast took place on the tracks between Diphu and Daldali stations but no one was injured in the attack.

Two blasts took place in the month of February this year and the first one was at the Kamakhyaguri station on February 5 and the second at Kamakhya station on February 9, but no casualties were reported in both the incidents.

After the blasts in the months of January and February, there was a lull period for a few months and the next blast occurred in the month of September. One person was killed and at least 15 others were injured in the blast in the Bamunimaidam Railway Colony in the city on September 1.

Though no major incident was reported in the months of October and November, the current month turned out to be one of the worst with four blasts taking place in different parts of the State so far. The first blast of this month took place on the tracks between Bokajan and Khatkhati railway stations on December 4 and the second on the very next day, again on the tracks, between Diphu and Nailalong stations. But no casualty was reported. The third blast of the month took place between Tangla and Harisinga stations on December 7 in which no one was injured. The blast on the Rajdhani Express on December 13 between Naojan and Chongajan stations was the worst this year as five persons were killed and four others were seriously injured in the incident, Railway sources said.

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