The Maoist mystery behind the Gyaneswari Express accident has been unmasked. Investigating officers have stumbled upon vital clues that have helped them reconstruct the sequence of events that ultimately led to the death of over a hundred passengers.
On the basis of “electronic evidence”, the police has found that the attack was a “joint-venture” of the Maoists and the Maoist-backed tribal body, the People’s Committee against Police Atrocity (PCPA). The police officials have also zeroed down upon three names — Bapi, Madan Mahato and Manoj Mahato. All three are members of the Maoist arms squad.
Around 40-odd Maoists had gathered near Indraboni in Jhargram police district. A pick-up van was hired on Thursday night, a few hours before the fateful accident. The pick-up van was then loaded with spades, hammers and other tools before the team headed for their destination on the van.
The van was stopped a few kilometres off Sardiha — the chosen spot to carry out their “operation” that marked the beginning of the Kala Saptah (Black Week) called by the Maoists. They divided themselves in three groups, led by Bapi, Madan and Manoj. Their works were divided as well. One group headed straight for the railway tracks with the tools, the second started patrolling to keep an eye over any unwanted intruder and the third hid in the adjoining bushes in no time; Ready to ambush, in case security forces closed in. “The main idea was to divert the forces from the actual scene of action. It worked. The forces had got a whiff of the Maoist presence in that area. But by that time, the work was done and the forces only missed the retreating Maoists by a whisker,” revealed sources.
Soon after the incident, intercepts of telephonic conversations between two top Maoist leaders confirmed the cops’ suspicion. “They have been jubilant ever since the accident,” said an official of the state home department.
However, it is believed that unlike other instances, where Maoists claim responsibility after any attack, both the Maoists and PCPA have washed their hands off the incident, just because the casualties in this case are civilians. The officers have also found that the plan to derail a train was hatched at Manickpara, a village, a few km off Jhargram town.
Police officers are also suspecting that some of the linesmen who were on duty on Thursday night had deliberately kept off that area under the Maoist pressure. On being contacted and asked about the same, DRM Kharagpur Anil Handa said, “Though it is a remote possibility, nothing can be ruled out at this moment.”