Captured India train driver freed

By Subir Bhaumik
BBC News, Calcutta

A local militia had called an indefinite strike over alleged police atrocities

A train driver abducted by Maoist rebels in a remote area of the Indian state of West Bengal has told of his relief at bring freed.

"My God, it is great to be alive," Ananda Rao said after being released by the militia following a security operation to free him.

The Rajdhani Express is one of India's most prestigious services and was stopped as it travelled from Delhi.

The driver's abduction left hundreds of passengers stranded in the jungle.

Arrangements are now being made to return them to Orissa where most of them come from, officials say.

However one passenger complained that he and others had been "stranded for such a long time but still there had been no relief train".

Railway officials say that they are working hard to find a different driver who can transport them.

"A relief train is reaching from Jamshedpur. But we were waiting for the security forces to take control of the area before we send a relief train," railways spokesman Samir Goswami said.

Security forces say that they rescued the driver after "fighting their way through" to the site of the stranded train near Banstala. He had been abducted several hours earlier.

A militia affiliated with Indian Maoist rebels claimed responsibility for the abduction.

More than 6,000 people have died during the Maoists' 20-year insurgency.

They say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless.

'Train surrounded'

A group of armed men, faces covered with towels, stormed into the Rajdhani Express train from Delhi to Bhubaneswar in Orissa after the signal turned red. They then abducted the driver.

The train remained stranded near Banstala village, surrounded by hundreds of tribes people, officials said.

At least one policeman was injured as fighting continued between rebels and police trying to reach the train.

Asit Mahato, leader of the Kanu-Siddhu militia, said to be close to Maoist rebels, claimed responsibility for stopping the train and taking the driver away.

The militia has called an indefinite strike to protest about alleged police atrocities against tribes people in West Bengal's Junglemahal region where security forces launched a huge offensive against the Maoists in June.

"Why should trains ply when we have called a strike? If they do, we will do all to stop them," Mr Mahato said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said that in the wake of the most recent incident he made it "clear to the Maoists and their militia that their demands for... releasing their leaders [held in prison] did not arise".