Bengal’s decision on CBI probe in Sainthia train crash soon

KOLKATA - The West Bengal government will inform the central government within a week about its opinion on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into last month’s train accident in Birbhum district which left 63 dead, an official said Saturday.

State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said: “A detailed report has been sought from the state police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is probing the accident, and after going through the status report we will inform the centre about our opinion.”

He said the CID report is expected in two to three days.

Ghosh’s statement came a day after the union home ministry Friday sent a letter to the state government seeking its opinion about ordering a CBI probe into the accident at Sainthia railway station.

The Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express rammed into the stationary Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district July 19.

According to the letter from the ministry, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has sought a CBI probe into the accident, prompting the central government to seek opinion of the state government on the issue, another senior state government official said.

The state has already initiated a CID probe into the incident following a complaint lodged by passengers with the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Sainthia station.