An alert driver on Tuesday foiled a suspected sabotage bid to derail an express train when he slowed it down in time on noticing concrete sleepers on the track in Virudhunagar district in south Tamil Nadu, railway police said.
The driver of Chennai-Shencottah 'Podhigai Express' applied the brakes on noticing the sleepers on the track near Solaisaeri village, they said.
However, the train ran over the concrete sleepers and dragged them for about a km before coming to a halt, causing heavy damage to the front portion of the engine.
Police suspect it to be a case of sabotage by supporters of Dalit leader John Pandian, whose arrest led to violence in Paramakudi and death of seven persons in police firing and other parts of southern districts in the past two days.
The train was brought to nearby Sankarankoil station and continued its journey after repair of the engine, they said.
Tirunelveli Range DIG of Police (incharge) Varadharaja, and district Superintendent of Police Vijayendra Bidhari visited the spot and conducted investigations.