Guard murdered, train movement disrupted

LATEHAR/DHANBAD: A guard of a goods train was found murdered in a running train in Latehar district following which train movement on Coal India Chord (CIC) section of East Central Railway was stopped for eight hours by agitated Railway employees demanding safety.

The killing came to light at around 9 PM yesterday when the guard of the coal-laden goods train identified as N L Ram did not contact the station master of Barwadih Railway station regarding signal, a Railway official said in Dhanbad.

Railway staff started searching for him and found him lying in a pool of blood.

A police officer said in Latehar that Ram was beaten to death.

On receiving the news, DRM B B Singh and Safety Commissioner of the division N A Jha along with other officials rushed to the spot at night.

The DRM has assured the agitating staff of adequate security after talking with state government officials as law and order falls under the purview of the state government, the official said.

The agitated staff under the banner of East Central Railway Karmchari Union (ECRKU) stopped the rail movement in protest against the incident in the goods train which was going to Barwadih railway station from Barkakana station.

Trains movement on the CIC section of Dhanbad Rail Division resumed after eight hours at 7 AM today following the DRM's assurance.

CIC section of Dhanbad rail division is a Naxal-affected area.

The Safety Commissioner told media persons in Dhanbad that a probe was on in collaboration with the local police to arrest the culprit.

ECRKU general secretary Santosh Tiwary warned that train movement would be "paralysed" if the management failed to provide security.