65 dead in Bengal train accident, Maoist sabotage suspected

At least 65 people were killed and over 200 injured early Friday when a Mumbai-bound passenger train derailed and was hit by a speeding goods train in West Bengal, officials said, suspecting sabotage by Maoist guerrillas. ‘Sixty-five bodies have been recovered. There may be many more,’ West Bengal Home Secretary Samar Ghosh told NDTV news channel from Kolkata. The figure is likely to go up as hundreds of passengers are still trapped in the engine and 13 bogies that derailed after the accident took place at around 1.30 a.m near the Maoist stronghold of Jhargram, in West Midnapore district, about 155 km from the West Bengal capital.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said unambiguously from the accident site that ‘it is a bomb blast case’. Banerjee said that police and district administration told her that they have found evidences that the track was blasted. ‘I have got the message from them,’ the minister told reporters.

Ghosh added that over 200 passengers of the Mumbai-bound Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Super Deluxe Express train were injured after some of its compartments were derailed and hit by a goods train coming in the opposite direction. The official said that 1.5 ft of the railway track was reported to be missing which caused the derailment. In Delhi, a railway official didn’t rule out the sabotage by the rebels, but said deaths were mainly caused by the collision after the derailment of the passenger train. ‘We suspect it is a case of sabotage. The driver (of the passenger train) has reported to have heard a huge sound. There was definite tinkering with the tracks,’ member Railway Board Vivek Sahai told reporters. Sahai said a light engine and three trains had passed on the track earlier. ‘It is unfortunate that Gyaneshwar Express got hit.’ He said the railways had sounded a red alert in five states — Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and West Bengal — in the wake of the black week being observed by Maoist guerrillas since Thursday midnight to protest a massive security operation against them.

In Kolkata, Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told IANS that the train ran off the track as a portion of the tracks as well as fish plates were found to removed near Jhargram. ‘There could have been a blast. But the train derailed primarily because of the missing fishplates and rail tracks,’ Singh said. As soon as the engine and coaches fell on the adjoining track, shrieks of injured passengers tore through the night as they feverishly tried to escape from the mangled coaches. Shocked train passengers stumbled out of the bogies and frantically looked for their near ones.

Villagers and railway officials frantically tried to rescue passengers still trapped in the fallen bogies. ‘We heard a loud, screeching noise of the train braking and the coaches derailing,’ said a survivor. A man who rushed to help the injured said: ‘Initially, no security staff in the train helped. Only public came to the help of the passengers. We rushed to try and save people.’ No one has claimed responsibility for the sabotage but officials say they have recovered posters of Maoists and the Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA), a group of tribal agitators having close links with Leftist rebels in West Midnapore. The Indian Air Force and other security agencies have launched a massive rescue operation and helicopters and medical team pressed into service at the accident site, IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Mahesh Upasni told IANS.

The injured passengers were taken to the nearest major town Kharagpur and elsewhere in West Midnapore district. Many of those wounded are believed to be in a serious condition. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced Rs.200,000 as compensation for those killed and Rs.50,000 for the seriously injured. Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee also declared compensation of Rs.500,000 to each of the families of those killed and a job for one member of the family.

(http://sify.com/news/65-dead-in-bengal-train-accident-maoist-sabotage-suspected-news-national-kf2lEcabjdj.html  28/05/10, Sify News)

Naxals slay 2 Gadchiroli cops

Naxal violence returned to Gadchiroli after a lull. The rebels brutally murdered two constables attached to Gatta armed out post on Thursday morning. Constables Tushar Bandewar and Balaji Bhosale were shot and also stabbed outside Delanguda village near Jambia Gatta. With the latest killing, Naxals proved their chilling presence in the district that had witnessed more than 51 police casualties last year. Bandewar and Bhosale were possibly returning to their post from the village when the incident took place. The cops were on a bike which they had hired from Gatta village near the police post.

Confusion prevailed over how exactly the event unfolded. The reason for the cops to venture out of the outpost is also unclear. Jambia and Gatta are considered two most sensitive places as far as Naxal presence is concerned. There is a speculation as to why the cops had to go to Delanguda located in the interior where presence of the rebels is always a threat. Police are unsure whether the cops had gone to attend a marriage ceremony in the village or to make some purchases at a local chicken market. The senior cops, still a waiting details, said it was unlikely that Bandewar and Bhonsale were lured into a trap. While Bandewar was a resident of Kotgul in Gadchiroli district, Bhosale was from Latur district in Marathwada.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Nagpur/Naxals-slay-2-Gadchiroli-cops/articleshow/5983544.cms  28/05/10, The Times of India)

PCPA claims responsibility

Maoist-backed People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) have claimed reponsibility for the derailment of an express train that left at least 65 dead and over 150 injured early today. “The PCAPA have left two posters near the rail tracks clearly owning responsibility for the derailment of the Kurla-bound Gyaneswari Express,” IGP (Law and Order) S Karpurakayastha told PTI here. The posters read, “We earlier demanded withdrawal of the joint security forces from Jangalmahal (West Midnapore, Bankura and Purulia) and end of CPI(M) atrocities, but those demands were not met.” Another poster demanded immediate withdrawal of the joint forces from the area. Police have seized both posters.

(http://www.ptinews.com/news/673902_PCPA-claims-responsibility  28/05/10, Press Trust of India)

25 Pakistani militants freed, to be sent back

The Jammu and Kashmir government has revoked the detention orders of 25 Pakistani militants lodged in different jails of India to facilitate their return to their country. The state government acted late on Thursday night on the advice of the home ministry, which asked that the militants be released. “Their detention orders under the Public Safety Act (a law that allows the government to keep people in jail without trial for two years) have been revoked and they would be sent to Wagah in Punjab for their return to Pakistan,” an official said on condition of anonymity.

The process for their release was initiated about two months ago after their detention came under sharp criticism from human rights groups. The militants were also given consular access at Amritsar, government sources said. “This is nothing new. It has happened in the past, too,” a source said. All 25 Pakistani militants, who would be handed over to Pakistan authorities at Wagah Friday, were arrested over the years from Jammu and Kashmir. Some of them were involved in acts of terror, the sources said, but did not specify the exact nature of crime committed by them. Some of them were lodged in jails outside Jammu and Kashmir for security reasons.

(http://www.hindustantimes.com/25-Pakistani-militants-freed-to-be-sent-back/Article1-549698.aspx  28/05/10, Hindustan Times)

J&K: Probe into alleged fake encounter

The Jammu and Kashmir government has ordered an inquiry into an alleged fake encounter by the Army in the Machil Sector along the Line of Control (LoC) on April 30. Police have arrested two Army informers for luring three villagers of Baramulla and handing them over to the Army. It’s alleged that the three were later killed in a fake encounter. The Army had claimed to have killed three militants and recovered AK rifles, ammunition and Pakistani currency from them. A few days later, villagers filed a complaint with the police saying three people were missing. Now, a senior IAS officer will probe into the incident. The government has ordered that the bodies be exhumed and handed over to the relatives after proper identification. When asked for a reaction, Defense Spokesman Lt Col Brar said, “Police are investigating the case.”

(http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/jk-probe-into-alleged-fake-encounter-28291.php?cp  28/05/10, NDTV)

Assam to release jailed Ulfa leaders for peace talks

A day after it decided to start talks with Ulfa, the Assam government on Thursday initiated moves to free all jailed leaders of the outfit. The government also wants to facilitate a meeting of the Ulfa’s central executive committee to ensure that the latter can formally decide on joining the peace process. It has forwarded its decision to the Ulfa leadership. Six of the outfit’s central executive committee members, including Ulfa chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, are lodged in various prisons in the state, while two are out on bail. “Our central committee will collectively take a decision and respond to the government’s peace offer,” said Rajkhowa when he was brought to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital for a routine health check-up on Wednesday.

A source associated with the peace process said, “They (jailed leaders) have cases against them. Courts, where these leaders are being tried, can only order their release. All of them may not be released at one go, but in batches. And it will happen very soon.” On the other hand, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said the Ulfa leadership would take some time to set the peace process rolling. “Their members are scattered. Some are in Bangladesh and some in Myanmar. They (leadership) will have to establish contact with them. They will start the process very soon,” he added.

Gogoi urges Paresh to join peace talks

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi had on Wednesday indicated that his government could start negotiations with Ulfa without the outfit’s military head, Paresh Baruah, who is believed to be holed up in China’s Yunan province. Giving more information on Baruah, the CM on Thursday said: “We have reports he is not willing to join the peace process. Nevertheless, I appeal to him to join talks since people of the state want peace.” According to sources, Ulfa has about 300 members. Most of its top leaders are reportedly staying at a camp in Sherpur (Bangladesh), about a fivehour walk from Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills. “The Sherpur camp houses militants like Bhaity Baruah, in charge of Ulfa’s finance wing, Antu Chowdang, Pallab Saikia, Pranjit Saikia and Drihsti Rajkhowa,” a source said.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Assam-to-release-jailed-Ulfa-leaders-for-peace-talks-/articleshow/5983575.cms  28/05/10, The Times of India)

CBI arrests four top NDFB cadres in Assam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested four top National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres alleged to have been involved in 30th October Assam serial blasts in 2008 in which 95 persons lost their lives. The main accused Rahul Brahma has been arrested at Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh while three others- B. Ansai, Lukhra and Indra Brahma were arrested in Kokrajhar district of Assam last night. Official sources revealed that Rahul Brahma was directly involved in the blast at Panbazar area of the Guwahati city while three other accused were involved in the explosions that took place at Bongaigaon.

Meanwhile, the police are interrogating NDFB’s anti talk faction chairman Ranjan Daimary in connection with indiscriminate firing at Bhimajuli market place in Sonitpur district on 3rd October last where 12 persons died on-the-spot and several others wounded.

Ranjan Daimary alias D R Nabla who was hiding in Bangladesh, was handed over to Border Security Force by the Bangladesh Rifles at Dawki in Meghalaya along Indo-Bangla border on first of this month. He is now facing marathon questioning by the Special Operations Group of the Assam Police and the CBI in connection with different cases of killings, kidnappings, extortions and violences in the State.

(http://www.newsonair.com/news.asp?cat=state&id=ST2389  28/05/10, AIR News)

1200 Reang Regugees came back to Home

A group of 1200 Reang refugees has returned back to home, Mizoram from Kanchanpur of north Tripura after thirteen years of displacement. Flowing the recent direction of the central home ministry Tripura government took strong initiative to send the refugees to their home state.In 1997 around 32000 Reang tribals had to leave Mizoram for a clash with local Mizo people and took shelter in Tripura. Since then they have been living in north Tripura. But they frequently express to return back. Recently a Delhi based Right groups Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) pleaded the central Home ministry to take up appropriate step for resettlement as well as mitigation of plight of the refugees instantly. Accordingly, Home minister P Chidambaram,in his last vist to Agartala asked Tripura government to take a strong step with regard to this.But when the others wiil leave the state is not clear yet.

(http://www.assamtimes.org/hot-news/3986.html  28/05/10, Assam Times)

Tension brews, violence spreads to Kalupur

An incident of stabbing was reported from the notorious Patwa Sheri area on Wednesday night as violence spread to the Kalupur on the third day. Five police personnel were injured in fresh clashes between two communities in Kalupur and the police opened 10 rounds of fire and lobbed 45 teargas shells. Shahpur reported stone pelting incidents in the Golwaad and Bhilvaas areas, even as a sanitary worker was stabbed near Patwa Sheri in the Karanj area of the walled city late on Wednesday night.

However, the resilient public decided to get on with business and at least 80 per cent of the bazaars opened in Shahpur, Kalupur and Dariapur on Thursday. Meanwhile, the police arrested nine persons for inciting tension in the walled city. A communal riot broke out on Monday night when a marriage procession passed by a mosque during prayer time, in Shahpur. One person died in the backlash the following day leading to more tension even as stabbing incidents were reported from Mirzapur and other areas on Wednesday.

According to Kalupur police, a communal clash started around 11.30 pm on Wednesday in Durga Mata ni pol area. According to a complaint filed by sub-inspector BK Tatania, mobs of around 500 persons attacked one another with stones, brickbats and petrol bombs. “The attack continued for more than two hours. While trying to disperse the mob, RK Kumbharwadia, inspector of Kalupur police station, and four of his men got injured,” said a Kalupur police station official. “What is worrisome is stray incidents in the areas that keep the tension high. There might be nothing the entire day but as night falls, the groups target each other and disrupt normalcy in the area. We want to appeal to the public at large not to support such elements and contact police control room immediately when such situation arises,” said a senior city police official about the incident.

Rumour mills working overtime in walled city

For the residents of areas, including Bhilvaas and Nagorivaad, it was impossible to move around for last two days. Thursday came as a respite for them. “We are not in support of the violence. Our area has become symbol of communal unrest for the city. We do not know how it started or who did it. We just want to end it as soon as possible,” said Afzal Shaikh, a shopkeeper and resident of Shahpur.

Rumours of molestation of girls of different communities also made rounds. Another fear was stored-up stones and brickbats on the terraces. “Why did the police not conduct any combing operation in last three nights even when acid bulbs, petrol bombs and brickbats were used extensively? How were these available at such short notice,” asked a resident of Khanpur.

Control room phones kept ringing

Residents of walled city kept control room officials busy over three days and nights to inform them about new incidents or to know about the situation. “We received more than 100 calls everyday from residents and commuters who wanted to know the situation. In a way it helped us to know where to deploy the forces. On the other hand, some of them proved to be hoax and were meant to divert our attention,” said a senior city police official.

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Tension-brews-violence-spreads-to-Kalupur-/articleshow/5982660.cms  28/05/10, The Times of India)

Just 2% of people in J&K want to join Pak: Survey

For those who still think a plebiscite will tilt the status of Kashmir and that most Kashmiris yearn to wave the Pakistani green, there are now numbers for the first time to contradict these claims.

A survey carried out across both Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, that its author claims is the first ever of its kind, shows that only 2% of the respondents on the Indian side favour joining Pakistan and most such views were confined to Srinagar and Budgam districts. In six of the districts surveyed late last year by researchers from the London-based thinktank Chatham House, not a single person favoured annexation with Pakistan, a notion that remains the bedrock for the hardline separate campaign in Kashmir.

However, the study by Robert Bradrock, a scholar from London’s Kings College, that involved interviewing 3,774 people in both parts of Kashmir in September-October 2009 showed that 44% of people on the Pakistani side favoured independence, compared to 43% in Indian Kashmir.

Bradrock says in the 37-page report on the survey that this would put an end for all times to come to the plebiscite route as a possible way to resolve Kashmir, since the only two options envisaged under the UN resolutions proposing plebiscite in 1948/49 were for the whole of Kashmir to join either India or Pakistan; azadi was not an option. But in the Valley, the mood for azadi still remained strong, with 75%-95% respondents favouring that as a final resolution.

The poll showed no support either for joint sovereignty or for maintaining status quo. However, more than 58% of those surveyed were prepared to accept the Line of Control as a permanent border if it could be liberalized for greater people-to-people contact and trade. Only 8% voted against making the LoC a permanent boundary, with the highest level of opposition in Anantnag district, the report said.

Few people in Kashmir, compared to many more in PoK, believed that violence was likely to resolve the Kashmir issue. In J&K, only 20% thought that militant violence would help solve the problem, compared to nearly 40% who thought it was coming in the way of a resolution. In PoK, 37% of those surveyed held the view that violence was a possible route to resolution. That both the state legislative elections in 2008 and the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 had helped bring about a change in mindsets was seen in the increasingly high turnouts that Kashmir has posted in recent years.

The survey too demonstrated that trend, with more than half the respondents saying the elections had improved chances for peace. “The results aren’t surprising at all. I feel they re-emphasize the need to look beyond traditional positions and evaluate the contours of a solution grounded in today’s realities,” said Sajjad Lone, a former ally of the Hurriyat who unsuccessfully contested the 2009 election. Peoples Democratic Party chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar said the azadi aspirations must be factored into any solution. “It can’t be wished away and has to be configured into the future strategy on Kashmir. We’ve always been pleading to provide an alternative to the azadi sentiment.”

(http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Just-2-of-people-in-JK-want-to-join-Pak-Survey/articleshow/5982710.cms  28/05/10, The Times of India)