Maoists blow up rail track in Bengal

Maoists blew up a railway track near Midnapore town in West Midnapore district on Tuesday, disrupting train services in the Kharagpur division, as the bandh called by them in three states entered the second day.

Rail slippers were blown off and a huge crater was created below the tracks at Puturia between Midnapore and Bhadutala stations due to the impact of the blast, police said.

Railway officials, police, bomb squad officials and other security forces have rushed to the spot and repair work has begun.

Several express trains including Nilachal Express and Chakradharpur Passenger have been stopped at various stations on the track that connects Jamshedpur with Howrah.

The bandh called in West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand has been complete in the predominantly tribal inhabited Jhargram sub-division of West Midnapore district after Maoists threatened several shop-owners by firing in the air. No vehicle was seen on the roads in the area, officials said.