Maoists attack Odisha railway station, put up posters against PM Narendra Modi's visit

The Prime Minister will be in Odisha on April 15 and 16 to attend BJP's national executive meeting.

Bhubaneswar: Around 15-20 Maoists attacked a railway station in Odisha`s Rayagada district early Friday, protesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s visit to the state on April 15.

The armed Maoists arrived at the Daikallu Station under Sambalpur Division at around 1.30 am. They first ransacked the office, said station master SK Parida in a statement.

The Maoists then pulled the station staff out of the office. Soon they triggered an explosion in the office and snatched away the walkie-talkie used by the Station Master, the statement of the East Coast Railway further said.

According to Chief Public Relations Officer of East Coast Railway (ECoR), JP Mishra, Parida and a token porter Gobind Hikaka were also detained by them for a brief period.

The militants left the station after 2 am.

Rayagada Superintendent of Police K Siva Subramani, who rushed to the spot, said minor damage was caused to the engine of the goods train.

No railway staff or local people was, however, hurt in the incident, the CPRO said, adding control room has been able to speak to the staff.

Train services through Daikallu, located between Rayagada and Titlagarh stations, were disrupted for quite some time. A number of trains were stranded at Muniguda station, railway officials said.

The Maoists left behind handwritten posters opposing the policies of Narendra Modi government at the Centre and Naveen Patnaik regime in Odisha, officials said.

In one of the posters, the attackers opposed the proposed two-day visit of the Prime Minister to Odisha on April 15 and 16 to attend BJP's national executive meeting.

Some posters also criticised non-Odia officers being appointed to senior posts in the state police as well as administration, they said.

Director General of Police KB Singh said combing operation has been launched in the area by CRPF and Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel after the incident.

Railway officials said that movement of goods trains with restricted speed had resumed after security clearance, while steps are being taken for the resumption of express and passenger trains soon.

The Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a two-day national executive meeting in Bhubaneswar from April 15.

Several senior leaders of the party, including BJP president Amit Shah, LK Advani, and BJP Chief Ministers will attend the meeting.

(With Agency inputs)