Mamata for CBI probe Train toll rises to 141

Mamata for CBI probe Train toll rises to 141
PTI
JHARGRAM/KOLKATA, MAY 29
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today alleged there was a “political conspiracy” behind the Jnaneswari Express derailment without blaming Maoists for the disaster and demanded a CBI probe, as the toll climbed to 141 with recovery of 43 more bodies.
As Banerjee and arch rival CPI-M indulged in a blame game, the train’s driver B K Das filed a FIR with the Government Railway Police (GRP) unit in Jhargram in which he referred to an explosion on the track when the Howrah-Kurla Lokmanya Tilak Jnaneshwari Super Deluxe Express derailed in West Midnapore district, about 150 kms from Kolkata at around 1:30 am.
The FIR was filed against “unidentified miscreants” under Sections 150 (maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train) and 151 (damage to or destruction of certain railway properties) of the Railway Act but made no mention of Maoists.
Additional Director General Government Railway Police (GRP) Dilip Mitra said the FIR appeared to be not adequate. GRP comes under the jurisdiction of States.
“It is the duty of the West Bengal administration to find out who is responsible,” Banerjee told reporters in Kolkata in remarks suggesting that Maoists, who have been blamed for the disaster in their heartland, cannot be held responsible until investigations are completed.
“From the Railway we have requested Union Home Ministry for a CBI investigation into the incident since it was in jangalmahal where joint operation is on. We have already sent a letter and the Centre has agreed to order it,” she said.
Banerjee said she did not know who were behind it, but “whoever did it, it was a political conspiracy. The accident has happened two days before the (civic) election. One may be politically against us, but I feel bad the way the incident was engineered to fulfill one’s political interest.
“Those who have done this sabotage and played with so many lives should not be pardoned,” she said.