Journalist held in Maoist train seize case

JAMSHEDPUR: A freelance journalist has been arrested in connection with the December 10 hijacking of Tata-Kharagpur Passenger train by Maoists at Kanumahali station under Ghatsila sub-division, Superintendent of Police (railway) Priya Dubey said on Sunday.

Chito Mahto, the scribe, who had allegedly pasted posters in villages of the extremist hit Ghatsila sub-division in connection with the incident, was arrested from West Midnapore district in adjoining West Bengal on Saturday.

Dubey said Mahato had disclosed names of two activists of the ultra outfit, involved in the train seize incident, who provided him the posters.

Mahato, a resident of Ghatsila, would be brought here on remand for further interrogation, she said.

Maoists had forced the 346 dn Tata-Kharagpur passenger train to stop for over two hours between Chakulia and Kharagpur stations bordering Jharkhand and West Bengal on December 10 morning and escaped with two rifles and walkie-talkies belonging to two RPF personnel and a guard after firing two rounds in the air.