The movement of trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route was hit on Wednesday midnight after CPI (Maoist) rebels put up banners and posters on railway tracks near Mahadevshal station ( in West Singhbhum) under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway.
Due to protest, the Jagdalpur- Howrah Samaleshwari Express and Mumbai-Howrah Mail was detained for over three hours from 11.45 pm at the Manoharpur railway station. Movement of Shalimar-Kurla Express was also affected.
Sources said there was also a rumour of a can bomb was kept on the the Dn line. Following this train engine was allowed to run in that stretch between Mahadevshal and Derwa, a rebel dominated area.
The rebels outfit is observing martyr's week from July 28 to August 3. According to railway sources, jawans of Railway Protection Force ( RPF) went to the spot and recovered a couple of banners and posters.
Superintendent of railway police ( Tatanagar), Anshuman Kumar said RPF in co-ordination with Government Railway Police ( GRP) has intensified patrolling on the tracks and at the vulnerable stations.
“Appropriate arrangements have been made to meet any threat from the ultras. Since Railway installations in the Kolhan region have always been soft targets for rebels. We have asked the authorities to keep a check and beefed up,” said an official.
The Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway and Tatanagar railway police have also taken necessary steps to ensure smooth movement of trains and guarding vital railway installations like bridges.
An official said that pilot trains will be pressed into service on the tracks soon.