Unwanted violence.

Death toll in violence on Guwahati-bound train rises to 4

PTI

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GUWAHATI/NEW JALPAIGURI, AUG. 20: 

With the recovery of two more bodies, the toll in the violence on board the Guwahati-bound special train carrying North-East people, has risen to four.

“While two bodies were recovered from a place between Belakoba and Raninagar stations, another two were found later at a place near Halakata, close to New Jalpaiguri station. Both places are in West Bengal,” official sources said today.

The Northeast Frontier Railway authorities are yet not sure of the cause of the fight inside the special train number three that led to the deaths, besides injury to nine others, four of them seriously.

It is also still not clear if the four were among those fleeing the Karnataka capital fearing a backlash after the Assam violence as the police and railway authorities here remained tight-lipped pending an investigation.

However, two bodies found at Belaboka yesterday were those of passengers hailing from Hialakandi in Assam.

The sources, however, said unidentified persons attacked passengers travelling in the special train and also snatched their luggage and belongings.

Special trains were being operated by the Railways from Bangalore to ferry passengers fleeing the city over fears of attacks on them sparked by rumours in the wake of Assam violence.

The injured have been admitted to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

The railway authorities had yesterday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 15,000 each to the family of two passengers whose bodies were found near Belakoba.