Maoists deny role in West Bengal train sabotage attempt

Maoists today denied responsibility for removing clips from railway track near Gidni station in West Bengal early yesterday which might have led to a major train disaster had the sabotage not been detected by alert railwaymen.
    
"Yesterday there was a huge gathering in all three districts to protest against torture of people by joint forces and if some people did the mischief, how can we be held responsible for this," top Maoist leader Kishenji said.
    
Speaking from an undisclosed location, Kishenji claimed the ultras were in no way involved in the removal of clips.
    
The New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express had a narrow escape when some unknown persons removed pandoral clips from a 400 m stretch of railway tracks just before the train was to cross the area near Gidni station near Jhargram in West Midnapore district.
    
The patrolling railwaymen detected the removal of pandoral clips, connectors between two tracks, by a group of persons who were also trying to bend the line. They immediately informed railway authorities after which the movement of trains was stopped.
    
Kishenji, however, claimed responsibility for the murder of two CPI-M members - Kunaram Singha, 45 and Ananda Singha, 42 - at a village in the Belapahari area in the same district last night, accusing the two of being police informers.