Naxals, front groups behind train attack: Chidambaram

Zeenews Bureau

New Delhi, 01 June 2010: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said Maoists or its front groups could be behind the attack on Jnaneswari Express, a theory contrary to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee’s claim that it was a conspiracy of the West Bengal government.

Chidambaram said the Railways favoured a CBI probe into the incident which claimed 148 lives but the state government’s view on it has not been received yet.

"The needle of suspicion points to Maoists or frontal organisations of CPI Maoists," Chidambaram said during his monthly media briefing. "However, the identity of the culprit can be established only in the investigations.

The Home Minister’s remark is contrary to what Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged - that her political rivals had conspired to cause the accident ahead of Sunday’s civic polls in West Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress chief has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the "political conspiracy" behind the accident.

"Railway Ministry has suggested that there should be a CBI inquiry. We have asked for West Bengal government’s views. We have not yet received their views," he said.

The Home Minister also contradicted Banerjee, who had said that explosives were used to damage the railway track that led to derailment of the Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Express early Friday. The engine and 13 coaches of the train derailed. Five coaches rolled on to a parallel track and were hit by a freight train in the Maoist stronghold in West Midnapore district.

Asked about reports of blast on the track, Chidambaram said, "I have been told by the West Bengal government and other police officials who visited the site that so far there is no trace of any explosives. The West Bengal government is on record saying panrole clips were removed and track was cut. That is also prima facie established. Only further investigations will bring out the truth."

To a question whether the government, seeing the heightened violence from Naxal side, was contemplating the use of air power, Chidambaram said that he had no comments to offer on the issue.

Anti-Naxal operational strategy

With the Left-wing extremists upping their ante and targeting civilians besides security forces, the Cabinet Committee on Security is likely to review the strategy dealing with Naxals.

"I am told the meeting of CCS is scheduled shortly," Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters when asked whether the government was planning to revisit the ongoing anti-Naxal operational strategy.

The Home Minister was replying to questions on the growing Naxal attacks during his monthly briefing in which he presented a report card of the Ministry for the month of May.

As many as 172 civilians and 29 security personnel were killed by Naxals during the month of May which included the recent derailing of a passenger train in West Midnapore by suspected Maoists which claimed 148 lives.

Asked whether he had allowed Swami Agnivesh to act as a mediator for talks between the Centre and the Naxals, he said that he had written a letter to the social activist which spells the broad parameters for the government to hold talks with the Maoists.

To a question whether the government, seeing the heightened violence from Naxal side, was contemplating the use of air power, Chidambaram said that he had no comments to offer on the issue.

Asked whether the Home Ministry’s stand on Naxals will be diluted following the inclusion of some human rights activists in the newly-constituted National Advisory Council, he said, "There is no stand of the Home Ministry. There is a policy of the government of India."