Train bomb kills 6 in eastern India
Pastor Dale Morgan
Train bomb kills 6 in eastern India*
POSTED: 1822 GMT (0222 HKT), November 20, 2006
KOLKATA, India -- A bomb exploded and ripped through two cars of a
passenger train Monday in eastern India, killing at least six people and
wounding 53 others, officials said.
The bomb had been planted on one of the cars of the Haldibari Passenger
Express, T. Rabha, a spokesman of Northeastern Railways, told The
Associated Press.
The blast occurred about 6:20 p.m. near the Belacoba train station,
about 345 miles north of Kolkata, Rabha said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility. Several Maoist groups are
active in the area, but they rarely target civilians.
Prasad Ranjan Roy, Home Secretary of West Bengal state, said initial
suspicion pointed to involvement of either a local Maoist group or
separatist militants from neighboring Assam state.
At least six passengers died at the scene and 53 others were wounded,
Rabha said, adding that the death toll could rise because some of those
injured were in serious condition.
Indian television cited local sources as saying there were more deaths,
but Inspector General of Police Raj Kanojia said those reports were not
confirmed.
Mumbai's train network was targeted July 11 when seven bombs exploded on
crowded commuter trains, killing more than 200 people. Thirteen men have
been arrested in the bombings. Police suspect the bombs were planted in
overhead luggage racks inside the coaches.