Maoists release seized train in India (2nd Lead)

Apr 22, 2009, 7:30 GMT

   New Delhi - Maoist rebels seized a train carrying several hundred passengers in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand on Wednesday but released the people later, avoiding a confrontation with security forces, news reports said.

   Around 200 militants took over the train early Wednesday near the Hehegada railway station in a remote area in Latehar district, a day ahead of the second phase of India's month-long general elections.

   They freed the train after a four-hour stand-off, the reports said.

   'The train has been released by Maoists and has moved from the station,' senior district official Sarvendu Tathagat told IANS.

   'Nobody was harmed at any point of time and all passengers are safe,' AK Chandra, a spokesman for the Indian Railways, told the news agency.

   Media reports said between 400 to 700 passengers had been held hostage on the train.

   The Maoist rebels released the train before the security forces could reach the area to launch rescue operations.

   The Maoist rebels, who have called for a boycott of the Indian general elections, have declared a 24-hour shutdown in Jharkhand and the neighbouring state of Bihar on Wednesday.

   The train hijacking comes amid five major attacks carried out by the Maoists in the two states since Tuesday evening to enforce their shutdown.

   During one attack in Jharkhand, the rebels blew up a train station just before an express train was due to pass the station. In another attack in the same state guerrillas blew up a school Tuesday night.

   The militants also killed a truck driver and set ablaze nine trucks besides bombing a government office in Bihar early Wednesday.

   The second phase of polling on Thursday is the biggest phase of the staggered elections with states such as Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, which have been affected by the Maoist insurgency, going to the polls.

   At least 17 people including security personnel were killed in a spate of attacks by the Maoists on the opening day of Indian polls on April 16.

   Maoist rebels, who claim to be fighting for landless farmers and neglected tribal people, operate in 13 of India's 29 states and have attacked government installations in the run-up to the five-phase voting.