(a) whether Naxalites had attacked the Patna-Dhannbad Intercity express in Bihar
in the month of July, 2013;
(b) if so, the details of persons killed and injured in the incident;
(c) whether any enquiry has been conducted into the said incident and the reaction
of the Railways thereto; and
(d) the details of measures being taken by the Railways to prevent the recurrence of
such incidents in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS ( SHRI ADHIR RANJAN CHOWDHURY )
(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3160
BY SHRI BHUDEO CHOUDHARY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 29.08.2013 REGARDING NAXAL
ATTACK ON PATNA-DHANBAD INTERCITY.
(a) and (b): Yes, Madam. On 13.06.2013 at about 13.30 hrs, a group of about 100
Left Wing activists attacked the Railway Protection Force (RPF) train escorting
party of train No. 13331 (Dhanbad-Patna Intercity Exp.) near Km. No. 398/15 between
Jamui and Bhalui Railway stations in Jhajha – Kiul section of Danapur Division, East
Central Railway. The perpetrators resorted to indiscriminate firing on the train and
also hurled bombs. The train escorting party consisting of 03 Railway Protection
Special Force (RPSF) and 02 RPF jawans also opened fire on the Maoists. The encounter
continued for more than half an hour. The jawans prevented the Maoists to take siege of
the train or cause heavy casualty of the passengers.
Bihar Police was requested for reinforcement. State authorities responded and
rushed State Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to the spot. In this
incident, one of the RPSF jawans escorting the train and two passengers lost their
lives. Five passengers and the train Guard sustained injuries. Maoists snatched away
03 Arms from the RPSF jawans.
(c) and (d): Local Police station / Chanan has registered a case vide crime No.
33/13 dated 13.06.2013 under section 147, 148, 149, 302, 307, 427, 120 (B), 379
Indian Penal Code, 27 Arms Act and 16/18 (B)/20 Unlawful Activities (Prevention)
Act in this regard.
Policing on Railways is a State Subject. Prevention of crime, registration of cases,
their investigation and maintenance of law and order in Railway premises as well as
on running trains are the statutory responsibility of the State Governments, which they
discharge through Government Railway Police (GRP).
As such, the cases of crime on Railways are reported to, registered and investigated
by the Govt. Railway Police. However, Railway Protection Force (RPF) supplements the
efforts of GRP by deploying their staff for escorting of important trains in affected
areas and access control duties at important and sensitive stations.
Security arrangements in naxal affected areas have been augmented by increasing the
strength of train escorting parties. The train escorting parties are equipped with
sophisticated weapons, sufficient ammunition, bullet proof jackets, walkie-talkies,
dragon search lights, etc. Additional deployment of CRPF is being made in Railway as
well as civil areas in naxal affected sections between Kiul to Jasidih.
Regular co-ordination is being maintained with the State Governments concerned and
intelligence inputs are shared with Intelligence Bureau, Government Railway Police/
Local Police from time to time.