Six injured as NDFP militants blast tracks, derail train

GUWAHATI: A six-year-old child was killed and six others, including the train driver injured, when five bogies and the engine of the Kolkata-bound Garibrath Express derailed after NDFB militants blasted rail tracks in Assam's Kojrajhar district in the wee hours today.

The incident occurred around 2.25 am after militants of the banned group blasted rail tracks at a spot between Gosaigaon and Chowtara in lower Assam, police said.

The child died on way to hospital, railway officials said.

Police also suspect the hand of Maoists in the attack. The General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railways (Guwahati), along with senior officials, are at the spot, the railway spokesperson said, adding Divisional General Manager (Alipurduar) had reached there with a medical team.

Passengers have been sent by an another train, while recovery vans from New Bongaigaon (Assam) and Alipurduar (West Bengal) have been sent to the spot, he said.

NDFB militants had last night blasted railway tracks at two places in Sonitpur district of Assam. The banned group had threatened to target railway tracks and roads in Tezpur and Udalgiri districts.