Author: Pioneer News Service
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: November 21, 2006
At least fifteen persons were killed and around
51 injured in a powerful explosion triggered by suspected extremists in a
general compartment of a passenger train when it halted at Belakhoba station
in Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal on Monday evening.
Police said ten people instantaneously died
in the blast that ripped apart a general compartment of the Haldibari-Siliguri
passenger train at 6.30pm. The explosion was so severe that a side and the
roof of the bogie were blown away.
Eyewitnesses said there was a flash followed
by a deafening explosion. There were two small explosions immediately afterwards.
"Some of the passengers jumped out of the coach in panic, while many
received burns," they said.
IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanoria said the bodies
were charred beyond recognition and it was feared the toll could go up as
several of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital. Around 51
people including 23 children have been injured in the blast.
Home Secretary PR Roy said the explosion was
suspected to be the handiwork of North Bengal militants. Asked if he suspected
the militant group KLO, which has links with ULFA, he said, "it might
be the KLO or the ULFA. We are trying to get details."
NF Railway sources in Malegaon in Assam, under
which the railway division falls, said a medical relief team left Siliguri
immediately after receiving information about the blast while another left
Guwahati.
No militant group has so far claimed responsibility
for the blast.
