Armed Maoist—backed activists on Tuesday seized the Bhubaneswar—Delhi Rajdhani Express in West Midnapore district but the prestigious train was freed by security forces after a five—hour hostage drama and all passengers were safe. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury
A broken window of the Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani at Banstala in West Midnapore. Activists, under the aegis of a Lalgarh group — People’s Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) — also took control of the two drivers in an unprecedented step to demand the release of their jailed leader Chhatradhar Mahato. Photo: PTI
The demand for the release of jailed PCPA leader Chhatradhar Mahato, which was also scribbled on the train bogies, was firmly rejected by West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. Photo: Mitul Das
CRPF jawans take position near the Rajdhani halted at Banstala near Jhagram in West Bengal's West Midnapore district. The train was secured without any incident shortly after dusk by CRPF after it was rushed to the spot as about 400 to 500 activists guided by “25 armed Maoists” took control of the high speed train at about 2.30 pm , about five hours after it left Bhubaneswar. Photo: PTI
A passenger sits beside a broken window of the Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani. Escorted by CRPF personnel, the train with about 1,200 passengers on board resumed its journey to New Delhi after being held up for seven and a half hours. Photo: PTI