A group of 25-30 suspected Naxals set on fire signals, control panel and communication setup of a Dumari -Bihar railway station and the engine of a goods train in CIC section on Thursday midnight in Bokaro district, said ASP (Abhiyan) Sanjay Kumar.
The police official said the incident occurred around 11.45 pm on Thursday at Dumari-Bihar station between Dania and Gomia station of the Central East Railway under the Gomia police station, 60 km away from the district headquarter Bokaro. Maoists, who included women cadres, burnt down the control panel, signals system and communication set of the station and partially damaged the engine of a goods train stationed there by putting it on fire, said Rail SP Ashim Vikrant Minz.
A team of the 26th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) and Bokaro police reached the spot. The Maoists also pasted hand bills against the State government on the station premises and rail bogies. They also took away walky-talky from there, the officer added.
According to reports, the station master on duty reported the incident at about 1:30 am. He said 25-30 armed men entered the station, pushed out the staff and set on fire, first the communication system of rail then after set on fire signals system, entire control panel and engine. The assailants snatched two walkie-talkie used by the railway staff. However, no railway staff or local passenger was injured in the incident.
DIG, rail, Jitendra Kumar Singh who reached the spot on Friday said Maoists first ransacked the ASM's office and then pulled out all staffs on duty and entire system was put on fire. While another group went to the goods train standing outside the station, they forced the drivers to shut down the engine and put it into fire, Singh further said.
Train movement is likely to start only after ascertaining the security and safety aspects, said an official. Many goods trains and passengers train have been stopped at different railway stations.