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| India-Pakistan |
| India: Maoist rebels free hijacked passenger train |
| 2009-04-23 |
| [ADN Kronos] Maoist rebels briefly hijacked a train with around 500 passengers in eastern India on Wednesday, a day before the second stage of India's general election. Police said about 250 Maoists are reported to have boarded a passenger train and forced the driver to take it to Latehar district in a remote area west of Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, before they fled from the area. "All the passengers have been released and they are safe," Sarvendu Tathagat, a local government official in Jharkhand, said. "They (the rebels) left the train and fled into the jungles." India's Maoist rebels, who say they are fighting for the rights of landless labourers and poor farmers, have stepped up attacks in central and eastern India during the general election. There were no reports of casualties but extra police were being transferred to the forested area in eastern Jharkhand state after the attack. Maoists have taken over trains in past years in a show of strength, often holding them up for several hours before leaving. In 2006, a train was hijacked in Latehar and 200 people onboard were later released unharmed. Five election officials were killed by Maoist rebels in a landmine blast in Chhattisgarh state last Thursday during the first stage of the election. Authorities believe Wednesday's attack was an attempt to disrupt voting Thursday in India's national election. The rebels have asked people in the region to boycott the polls. |
| Posted by:Fred |