Railway minister Mamata Banerjee has again hinted at sabotage behind the collision between the Uttar Banga Express and Vananchal Express at the Sainthia station in Birbhum district in the wee hours of Monday.
She was in Delhi when she heard the news of the train mishap. She took the first flight to Kolkata from where she took a special train to the accident site. “I am suspicious about the cause of the accident... We have some doubts in our minds. Whatever has happened is not casual,” Ms Banerjee said before heading for Sainthia. She warned of strong action against any one who would be found behind the mishap.
The visibly upset railway minister said that she had received many information. Ms Banerjee, however, did not elaborate nor did she point fingers at any individual or group or political party. Informed sources, however, said that she was extremely angry and suspected that two major accidents in less than two months in West Bengal were meant to present her in poor light. Even senior leader of her party Partha Chatterjee wondered why such train disasters took place in the state with such alarming frequency. “We demand a thorough probe to find out who at this time of tragedy, is trying to make political mileage from the casualties in the train accident,” he added.
Even after the Gyaneswari Express derailment on May 28 in which nearly 150 people were killed, Ms Banerjee had alleged “political conspiracy.” Her suspicion of foul play has apparently been prompted by a number of rather unusual factors. She has ordered an inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (eastern circle). He will among other things also investigate why the Uttar Banga Express was travelling before its scheduled time. It is clear that the train was over speeding. Ms Banerjee would like to know what was the reason behind what proved to be driver’s suicidal haste.
The home ministry does not seem to share the suspicion of railway ministry that Tuesday’s train accident in West Bengal could be a case of sabotage. MHA officials said that preliminary reports do not indicate that the accident in Birbhum district, happened due to some kind of sabotage.