Two arrested in Gyaneshwari case remanded in judicial custody

KOLKATA - Two pro-Maoist activists arrested Sunday for their alleged involvement in the Gyaneshwari Express tragedy, in which 148 people were killed, were remanded in three days judicial custody by a court in West Midnapore district Monday.

The accused were Tapan Mahato and Altab Hossen, members of pro-Maoist tribal body People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA). They were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths along with state policemen from a jungle near Sardiha station in the district.

Additional Director General of CBI Harsh Bhal said: “Tapan and Altab were wanted accused against whom rewards were announced to the tune of Rs.50,000 each in the Gyaneshwari Express train case”.

With the arrest of the duo, 12 people have been arrested in this case so far, said the spokesperson.

The CBI had announced cash reward of Rs.8.5 lakh against 11 accused, of whom eight are absconding.