One more arrested in Gyaneshwari train tragedy

KOLKATA - A pro-Maoist activist has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express tragedy in West Bengal in which 148 people were killed, police said Sunday.

Laxman Mahato, a People’s Committee against Police Activities (PCAPA) leader, was arrested Saturday night from Jhargram for his alleged role in opening the pandrol clips (used to fix the rail to the sleeper) that caused the derailment of the Mumbai-bound train in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district.

“He was arrested by a police team from the Jhargram police district,” Inspector General (Western Range) Zulfiqar Hassan told IANS over phone.

After the Gyaneshwari Express ran off the rails, a speeding freight train coming from the opposite direction rammed into five derailed coaches of the Gyaneshwari, leading to the high casualties.

Mahato alias Dhun would be produced in a lower court in Jhargram later Sunday, Hassan said.

He would be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the incident.

Two of the prime accused in the alleged sabotage, Manik Mahato and Bapi Mahato, have already been arrested. However, two other prime accused Umakanto Mahato and Asit Mahato have so far managed to evade the security agencies.

The CBI has already declared a reward of Rs.1 lakh for providing information leading to their arrest.