Jamshedpur: The ultras belonging to banned outfit CPI (Maoist) blew up a part of the railway track at Regadbera village between Lotapahar and Sonua railway station under Chakradharpur division in West Singhbhum district on Monday during wee hours. The rebels triggered the blast during the nationwide bandh called by the outfit.
A press communiqué issued by South Eastern Railway ( SER) informed the track has been repaired and traffic restored.
“ At about 02.15 hrs on 26.04.2021 information received by Station Manager/Sonua that in between Lotapahar and Sonua station at km 322/19-23 Loco Pilot of N BOST/KAV (Goods Train) found heavy jerk on UP line. On receiving information immediately all movement in the Rourkela-Chakradharpur section were stopped which included eight Mail Express/Passengers Trains viz. Howrah-Ahmedabad Spl, Howrah- Pune Spl., Rourkela Saranda MEMU and goods trains as security measures.
An official informed patrolling teams sent for inspection with security personnel. Railway team reached the indicated jerk site with RPF and State Police and started investigation. In investigation of the site it was found that the UP main line track was sabotaged and a blasted rail piece flowed around 35 metres from the damaged site. Restoration work started immediately after getting security clearance. Down line was given fit at 7.15 hrs and the 3rd line at 8.35 hrs. Movement over the lines resumed.
After necessary clearance and fitness from all departments at 9.35 hrs train movement was restored in the UP line between Sonua -Lotapahar section. The train movement over Chakradharpur and Rourkela section has been normalised. Junior Administrative Grade enquiry is being ordered by the DRM in this matter from Railway side. Further, Division has intensified the patrolling and it has been decided that light engine/goods trains will be running ahead of all mail express/coaching trains upto 06.00 hrs tomorrow.
Police recovered a banner with slogans. Up to one meter of rail track was damaged. After the incident security was further beefed-up. No injury, casualty or the derailment was reported.
The eastern regional bureau of the CPI (Maoist), a banned ultra left wing outfit had called for the Bharat bandh against the alleged killing of their cadres by security forces in Bihar and Chhattisgarh during anti-naxal offensive named as Operation Prahar. CPI (Maoist) alleged their armed cadres were murdered through fake encounters in Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
“Appropriate arrangements have been made to meet any threat from the ultras. Railway installations in the Kolhan region have always been soft targets for rebels. We have asked the authorities to keep a check and beefed up,” said an official.
The Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway and Tatanagar railway police have also taken necessary steps to ensure smooth movement of trains and guarding vital railway installations like bridges.
“We have decided to keep a close coordination with the district police for keeping the train movement incident free during the bandh,” said he.
