Kolkata: The detention of the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and taking its two drivers "hostage" leading to a five-hour crisis today was carefully planned by the Naxals, a senior security official claimed.
"This is not a sudden reaction by agitators but was very carefully planned with 25 armed Naxals guiding the agitators to block the tracks forcing the Rajdhani to halt at Banstala halt in West Midnapore district," the senior CRPF officer, who was involved in anti-Naxal operations in West Midnapore district, said.
Around 2,000 supporters of the People's Committee Against Police Atrocities gathered at Pirakati just beside Banstala on the instruction of Naxals, he said.
Last night Naxals, including seven to eight women, visited the villages like Panisole, Pirakati, Nolbona and Tubrubhola and ordered the villagers to be present, the official claimed adding "they warned that villagers who stayed away would be hauled up in a people's court and punished".
At around 1400 hrs IST, the agitators stopped a goods train blocking the down line. Forty-five minutes later when the Rajdhani Express came into sight, they waved red flags.
"This is clearly in tandem with the Naxals. There is no doubt, even when Kishenji was speaking and trying to say that he is not responsible for it because they wanted to keep their hands clean. But obviously, an operation of this kind is not something that the PCAPA can do on their own. There were no demands at all. Demands were all made via the media. As soon as we came to know about this, our forces reached the spot. There was absolutely no question of conceding to any demands whatsoever" — Union Home Secretary, G K Pillai to CNN-IBN
"We demand security so that we can work safely. If the situation continues to be so, it would be a problem for the common man" — Train Driver, L Paswan to CNN-IBN
"The Centre and and state government must pay more attention to development activities and also ensure justice, but that is not an excuse for indulging in violence and bloodshed. No government can tolerate any group taking the law into its hands" — Defence Minister, A K Antony to CNN-IBN
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