Home Minister P. Chidambaram Tuesday evening said the New Delhi-bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express train held hostage by Maoist guerrillas in West Bengal's West Midnapore district has been “secured” and “all passengers are safe”.
“The state police have reached the spot and the train has been secured,” Chidambaram told reporters here.
“The released train will move in the next few minutes. The train is safe and all the passengers are safe,” he said.
Chidambaram denied reports that there was any exchange of fire with the guerrillas who had abducted the driver and assistant driver of the train.
“I would like the media to show some restraint. Don't report rumours. A civilian driver has been injured. There was no exchange of fire. No CRPF person has been injured,” he said.
Maoist guerrillas have upped their offensive in the tribal-dominated central India. In recent days, there have been attacks on police stations and paramilitary troopers.