Hirakhand tragedy: Probe teams investigate for terror link

The NIA began a probe into the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express which claimed 39 lives.
NIA team inspecting the train tracks where Hirakhand Express derailed on Monday | Express
NIA team inspecting the train tracks where Hirakhand Express derailed on Monday | Express

BHUBANESWAR/RAYAGADA: As the alarming frequency of railway mishaps has lent credence to the possibility of sabotage behind Saturday’s tragic incident, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday began probe into the derailment of Jagdalpur-Bhubaneswar Hirakhand Express which claimed 39 lives.

A four-member team of the premier agency, which probes into terror attacks, reached Kuneru and inspected fractured tracks and the site, even as Commissioner Railway Safety (CRS) Ram Kripal started the statutory investigation into the incident.

With national security agencies worried about terror cells being activated by outfits based in Nepal, Pakistan and Middle East, the derailment of Hirakhand Express is initially being seen from a similar angle.

The NIA team, comprising VS Vaswani, Rahul Ray and Biswash Kumar Singh, accompanied by a unit of forensic laboratory conducted an on-the-spot investigation and examined cut-out piece of rail tracks, mended tracks, fish plates and broken materials lying at the site. They also quizzed the cabin guard, night patrolling staff and on duty station master including staff of that train.

While a case has been formally registered with Government Railway Police in Andhra Pradesh, Maoist hand is also not ruled out though no Left Wing Extremist outfit has, so far, staked claim for the incident.

Similarly, Odisha DGP KB Singh has ruled out role of Maoists in the derailment. The CID of Andhra Pradesh, which is also carrying out investigation, could look into possible role of Maoists since the region is known to be a Maoist stronghold.

With multiple agencies already on job, the CRS too inspected the mishap site and collected information after preliminary investigation. Kripal told mediapersons that he would meet injured passengers at the hospitals in Rayagada and Visakhapatnam and collect information from them.

If necessary, an inquiry panel may be constituted to investigate the incident. The CRS will also meet people at Rayagada and Dondaparathy on two days as part of the inquiry process.

Meanwhile, all the 39 deceased have been identified by the East Coast Railway (ECoR) and preliminary compensation has been released in cases where the kin complied with the procedures. Tragic stories of families losing near and dear ones in the incident kept pouring in as some dead bodies were cremated at Rayagada by the district administration.

Train movement has been restored to normalcy since 4 am with affected coaches removed from the tracks.

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The New Indian Express
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