NE men thrown out of running train
Source: Hueiyen News Service / REUTERS / Agencies
Imphal, August 19, 2012:
Raising the prospect of more communal clashes, two Northeast Indians fleeing home on fears of retaliation for violence against Muslims in Assam state died and nine others were injured after being pushed from a moving Bangalore-Guwahati train, on Sunday.
According to an Indian Railways official, the incident happened near the Jalpaiguri railway station in the northern part of the state of West Bengal, close to Assam.
"Two persons died, four are critically wounded and five suffered minor injuries," the Indian Railways official said, declining to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media.
More than 30,000 people from the Northeast boarded trains provided by Indian Railways in the past week to reach the northeast, media reports said on Saturday.
Ringed by China, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Bhutan, India's northeast is home to more than 200 ethnic and tribal groups.
Their facial features make them stand out in other states and many migrants from the region are considered Chinese or Nepali.
On Saturday, India's Home Ministry said most of the threatening text messages and website images that spread panic in India last week originated in Pakistan.
Pakistan denied the allegations.
"We totally reject the allegations in this report," a statement by Pakistan government on Sunday said.
"We find these allegations baseless and unfounded.
Such unsubstantiated and irresponsible statements will not help create the conducive environment we wish to create." Arch-rivals India and Pakistan, who have fought three wars since their independence 65 years ago, regularly accuse each other of provocative acts.
Meanwhile, report from Jalpaiguri quoting one of the injured passengers, who is now admitted to the district hospital, said they were looted, beaten up and then thrown out of the train by unknown persons.
Police found two bodies near Belakoba railway station, few km away from New Jalpaiguri, while seven other persons were found lying injured near the tracks.
"The two had died on the spot.
We do not know the reason behind the incident.
We are investigating the matter," said New Jalpaiguri area manager (rail) Partho Sarthi Seal.
The injured have been admitted to the district hospital and the North Bengal Medical College Hospital.
Protesting against the incident, locals staged a rail blockade delaying many local trains and all Assam-bound express trains.
Later in the day, the blockade was lifted.
The railway authorities on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000 each to the family of two passengers who died after being thrown out of Banglore-Guwahati train in Jalpaigudi district of West Bengal.
The kin of the passengers who were residents of Hailakandi district in Assam will be given an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000 each, Divisional Commercial Officer (DCM) of Katihar Division of East Central Railway B K Mishra said.
Four grievously injured passengers all having confirmed tickets for journey up to Guwahati will get an ex-gratia of Rs 5,000 each, he said.
The seven other passengers, who sustained minor injuries after they were thrown out of the train by unidentified persons, will get an ex-gratia of Rs 500 each, Mishra said.
The injured persons are undergoing treatment at the North Bengal Medical College at Siliguri, officials said.
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