One more arrest in Gyaneshwari train sabotage
By IANSTuesday, January 4, 2011
KOLKATA - Sunil Mahato, one of those charge-sheeted in the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express sabotage, was arrested from Manikpara village in West Midnapore district Tuesday.
Even though the Central Bureau of Investigation, probing the case, submitted the chargesheet Nov 29 naming 29 people, Mahato was so far evading the police.
“We got a tip-off that Mahato had come to his village Manikpara. Since he was in the wanted list, we arrested him,” Additional Police Superintendent of West Midnapore Mukesh Kumar told IANS over phone.
Kumar, however, could not provide details about Mahato’s involvement in the Gyaneshwari sabotage. “I am not in the investigation team. It was out duty to arrest him as he was wanted in the case.”
The Mumbai-bound Gyaneshwari Express ran off the tracks between Sardiha and Khemasuli railway stations near Jhargram as the pandrol clips (which fix the rails to the sleepers) were removed by the saboteurs. The toll went up to 148 as a freight train coming from the opposite direction rammed into the derailed coaches.
Local sources said Mahato was a local contractor who had allegedly roped in people to cut open the pandrol clips that caused the tragedy.
The pro-Maoist tribal body has been accused in the charge-sheet for causing the sabotage.
