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M A I N N E W S

Mamata screams conspiracy
Centre agrees to CBI probe
n Toll mounts to 141
n Rescue operations continue
Subhrangshu Gupta & PTI

Kolkata, May 29
On the eve of the crucial electoral battle for 81 municipalities seen as the ‘semi-final’ to next year’s West Bengal assembly elections, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee called yesterday’s Howrah-Kurla Gyaneshwari Express derailment a “political conspiracy” but was quick to add that she did not know who was behind it. She said that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would conduct a probe into yesterday’s mishap, even as the toll mounted to 141 (state Civil Defence Minister Srikumar Banerjee put it at 119).

Addressing a press conference at her Kalighat residence, Mamata said she was happy that Home Minister P Chidambaram had agreed to institute a CBI probe, which would “unravel the real causes of the accident”. “The accident happened two days before the election. One may be politically against us, but I feel bad that the way the incident was engineered to fulfill one’s political interest. Those who have done this sabotage and played with so many lives should not be pardoned,” Mamata said.

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury rejected as unfortunate and absurd Mamata’s claims pointing fingers at the Left party. The claim was being done with tomorrow’s civic elections in mind, Yechury said, adding Mamata is trying to cover up her “serious lapses.”

Apparently referring to the police report that fishplates were removed, Banerjee said, “I do not know from where this story has come. The railway lines there were long-welded railway lines, which have no fishplates. “A little before Gyaneshwari Express, a pilot engine and three mail and express trains had passed through. The last train was Howrah-Hatia Express, which had crossed the line at 12.40 am,” she said. Gyaneshwari Express was derailed at around 1.15 a.m.

She said that the 1.5 feet portion of the track might have been cut hurriedly during the 45-minute gap between the Howrah-Hatia Express and Gyaneshwari Express with the help of a gas-cutter and hacksaw blades. Mamata said several documents and information from locals had been collected that would help the CBI.

Meanwhile, rescue operation restarted early morning. Teams were still trying to cut their way into sections of the mangled wreckage and the toll could rise substantially, as more bodies could be there in the S-5 compartment. The number of injured has been put at 250 by officials. Several bodies were yet to be identified. Friends and relatives of passengers of the ill-fated train complained of poor rescue and relief operations. Air force planes did not take part in today’s operations.

Maoists identified: DGP

The West Bengal police tonight said Maoists were behind the Jnaneswari Express derailment and claimed to have identified the culprits behind the incident. “Those who did it are all members of Maoist squads. We have identified them and search is on to nab them,” DGP Bhupinder Singh told reporters here. He said two members of a Maoist squad, who were recently released on bail, had led the operation. — PTI

Driver files FIR, mum on Maoists

Midnapore: The motorman of Gyaneswari Express on Saturday filed a complaint with the Jhargram GRP against “unidentified miscreants” for Friday’s railway disaster.

Jhargram GRP Superintendent of Police Shankar Chakraborty said that the complaint was filed “against unidentified miscreants”. He said that driver BK Das had also mentioned an explosion at the time of derailment. South Eastern Railway officials in Kolkata said Das had mentioned that he had heard the sound of a blast and felt a big jerk after which he applied the brakes. — PTI

Karat opposes use of military against Naxals
N Ravikumar
Tribune News Service

Chennai, May 29
Even while accusing the Maoists of declaring a war against civilians, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat has opposed the use of armed forces against them.

“If reports about Maoists’ involvement in the attack on the Mumbai-bound train in West Bengal are true, it means they have declared a war on civilians and they stand exposed”, he said, after attending a seminar on the Sri Lankan issue last night.

Suggesting political and administrative steps to tackle the Maoist menace, the Left veteran said: “We have to take necessary socio-economical measures in tribal areas where there is a high degree of exploitation and inequalities. This is the way with which we can isolate them. Use of armed forces will not solve the problem.”

Defending the West Bengal government, he said the problem was with the Railways. “It is a well- known fact that Maoists frequently target trains. It is surprising that sufficient security measures were not taken,” he said.

Earlier, addressing a seminar on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Karat said India should use the visit of Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on June 8 to unambiguously convey the message that high priority should be accorded to speedy rehabilitation of displaced Tamils, political solution and return of normality in Tamil-speaking areas.