This story is from August 4, 2017

Maoists seize train for hours, abduct gateman near Jamui

Maoists seize train for hours, abduct gateman near Jamui
MUNGER/PATNA: Armed Maoists took control of the Danapur-Durg Express between Bhalui and Urain stations in Lakhisarai district for several hours on Wednesday-Thursday midnight, the last day of the weeklong bandh called by them in the state from July 28.
The bandh coincided with the ‘martyr week’ observed by the Maoists to remember their comrades killed in encounters with forces.
They also blew up a telecom tower in the area before the CRPF’s CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) commandos reached the spot and freed the train stranded near Bhalui Halt around 5am.
A CRPF officer involved in the operation said the Maoists first attacked the railway cabins near Bhalui and Urain stations, four-five kilometres apart, and forced the cabin staff to turn the track signals red. They also abducted gateman Munilal Mandal.
Seeing the signal red, the Danapur-Durg Express pulled up near the Bhalui Halt. The Maoists laid a siege to the train and forced the cabin staff to pass on the message to seniors about their strike. They also addressed the train passengers on public address system from the fields nearby, asking them to remain seated.
The CRPF officer said the scared passengers switched off the lights and locked the doors of coaches. After 150-odd CoBRA commandos reached the spot from Jamui, 8km away, on foot around 4.30am, an exchange of fire ensued. However, the Maoists soon escaped. While retreating, they released abducted gateman Mandal few kilometres away, the CRPF officer said.
East Central Railway public relations officer R K Singh said movement of trains on the
Delhi-Howrah mainline was disrupted due to the incident. “The traffic could be resumed at 7am after the forces freed the train and the tracks were examined by a security pilot for detecting sabotage or explosives,” he said and added at least 24 trains, including 12 long-distance ones, were delayed.
The trains stranded at different stations due to the Maoist strike included Mithila Express, Bagh Express, Kolkata Express, Danapur-Howrah Express, Patna-Banka Express, Delhi-Sealdah Express, Vibhuti Express, Gaya-Jasidih Shrawani Mela Special, Patna-Jasidih Shrawani Mela Special, Asansol-Howrah Mail, Amritsar Mail, Kamakhya Express, Mokama-Jasidih Intercity, Gangasagar Express, Janshatabdi Express and Danapur-Tatanagar Express.
CRPF sources said the Maoists intended to lure security forces to the area and ambush them. The incident took place in the Bheembandh area, said to be a Maoist stronghold.
Lakhisarai SP Arvind Thakur said normalcy has been restored in the area after the nightlong operation. CRPF sources said Maoist commander Pravesh Da alias Anuj Da, said to be hiding in the Bheembandh forests, was suspected to be the mastermind behind the hijack bid. Pravesh carries rewards of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 25 lakh announced by the Bihar and Jharkhand governments respectively on his head.
Intelligence inputs almost a month back had warned about assemblage of several Maoist leaders in theBheembandh area. “We along with Seema Sashastra Bal and Bihar Police forces were already
combing the area,” the CRPF officer said.
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