Thaindian News

Bashthala (West Bengal), Oct 28 (ANI): The Delhi bound Bubaneshwar Rajdhani Express, which was abducted and released by the pro-Maoist organisations, is expected to arrive at New Delhi Railway Station this afternoon.

The train resumes its journey after a seven-hour detention at Bashthala in West Midnapore district.

Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are escorting the train till Delhi. There was also a medical team to provide treatment in case any passenger fell sick.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram denied reports that there were any exchange of fire with the red ultras who had abducted the driver and assistant driver of the train.

Earlier, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said that passenger safety is the top priority of the government.

On Tuesday, Maoists stopped the train at Bashthala and then kidnapped the driver. They are demanding the release of their jailed leader Chhatradhar Mahato.

Mahato, the leader of the People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA), which has been spearheading the agitation against alleged police atrocities, was nabbed from the Pirka region, near Lalgarh village.

Mahato was about to give an interview to a journalist when he was apprehended.

Mahato had been giving regular interviews when the paramilitary forces and the state police had launched the anti-Maoist operations in Lalgarh, a place declared as a liberated zone by the Maoists, on June 19 forcing him to go underground for some time.

The tribals under Mahato had a free run for nine months with the police withdrawing from the camps, before the paramilitary troops captured Lalgarh from the Maoists who were fuelling the tribal agitations. (ANI)