The Hindu : Front Page : 10 killed in train blast

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Tuesday, Nov 21, 2006
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10 killed in train blast

Special Correspondent

KLO suspected to be behind the act

KOLKATA: At least 10 persons were killed and nearly 50 injured in a powerful blast inside a compartment of the Haldibari-Siliguri Passenger train at Belacoba station in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district at around 6.20 p.m. on Monday. The condition of some of those injured was said to be critical.

Unconfirmed reports said that the explosion had claimed at least 15 lives.

The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a militant outfit that has been active in north Bengal in the recent past and which has links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), is suspected to be behind the explosion. This, however, is yet to be officially ascertained.

The KLO has been demanding a separate state of Kamtapur to be carved out of large parts of north Bengal and some districts in neighbouring Assam.

For the first time in the State an explosion of such intensity has occurred, the State Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Roy said. The death toll could rise, he feared.

Senior police officials have rushed to the spot and the State Government has ordered an inquiry into the incident, Mr. Roy said. It is suspected that the bomb had been planted inside the compartment. Two compartments including the one where the blast occurred were extensively damaged.

An alert has been sounded at all major railway stations in the State and vigil inside trains has been intensified, according to a State official.

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