10 injured in Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train blast, terror angle suspected

Ten people were injured, three of them seriously, in an IED blast on a passenger train near Jabdi station in Madhya Pradesh's Shajapur on Tuesday, in what is suspected to be a terror attack.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh told PTI that "the initial investigation suggests the blast is a terror attack and investigation is underway to unravel the conspiracy behind the incident."

Police have detained three persons from Pipariya town in Hoshangabad district.

Railway PRO, Indore, Jitendra Kumar Jayant said the explosion took place in a general coach of the train between 9.30 AM and 10 AM when it was on its way to Ujjain from Bhopal.

Ratlam Divisional Railway Manager Manoj Sharma said 10 people were injured in the blast, three of them seriously.

While two of the seriously injured were rushed to Bhopal, five injured persons were discharged. "Two others are being treated at Kalapipal town in Shajapur district," he added.

He said the commissioner railway safety has been informed about the incident and he will take a call on conducting a probe.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad launched an operation to flush out a suspected terrorist holed up in a house on the outskirts of Lucknow following inputs that he may be linked to the blast.

Additional Director General of Police-Law and Order Daljeet Chaudhary said the terror suspect belongs to a localised group, influenced by Islamic State and its literature.

The suspect was hiding in Kakori area. The densely populated neighbourhood was cordoned off and at least 20 commandos were involved in the operation, police said.

A suitcase has been found in the coach and a bomb disposal squad was examining it. Due to the impact of the explosion, two coaches got separated from the train, which later left for its onward journey.

The glass panes of the windows in the general coach were shattered in the blast, which occurred when the train was about to reach Jabdi station, which falls between Kalapipal and Sehore railway stations.

Following the blast, the train came to a halt.

Smoke engulfed the general coach, causing panic among the passengers who rushed out to save themselves.

Madhya Pradesh Inspector General Intelligence Makrand Deoskar said the blast was carried out "by planting an Improvised Explosive Device".

When asked whether name of any terror group has cropped up during initial investigation, he said, "I am unable to say anything right now on the issue. But we have detained three persons and are interrogating them."

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has asked the state DGP, forensic experts, and officials of the Special Task Force and Anti-Terrorism Squad to conduct an enquiry.

The state government has announced a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each to the seriously injured persons and Rs 25,000 each to the other injured passengers.

The Union home ministry has sought a report from the state government on the blast.

In a communication, the home ministry asked the state government to send a detailed report about the incident and action taken so far to nab those involved in it, sources said.

The government was also told to inform the home ministry as early as possible whether any terror group was suspected to be involved in the incident.

The railways has made available helpline numbers for those seeking information about their relatives in the train.

The Centre meanwhile sounded an alert across the country.

"We are alert. We have sounded an alert all over the country," Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir told reporters in Delhi.

Meanwhile, two terror suspects have been held in Kanpur and one in Etawah.

ADG Chaudhary said those arrested might be having some possible links with the person holed up in Kakori. 

He also said that since the operation was taking place in a restrained manner, it could take some more time.

Commandoes of paramilitary forces were being rushed to assist the anti-terror squad and local police in capturing the person hiding here.

IG ATS Aseem Arun summoned elite commandos from Bijnaur police facility. The ATS team is trying to ensure that the suspect runs out of ammunition before barging inside.

IG Lucknow Zone A Satish Ganesh said, "The suspect was not surrendering. Instead he was resorting to firing. Chilli bombs were used to smoke him out."

Arun, who was conducting the operation, said, "When the police knocked the door (of the house where the terror suspect is holed up), he closed the door, and then there was a sound of pistol cocking, which proved that he has weapons."

He said the suspect resorted to intermittent firing. "We have withheld firing from our side. It appears only one person is hiding inside the house," he said.

The numbers: Ujjain 0734-1072 and 0734-60906, Indore 0731-1072, 0731-2521044, 0731-2521045 and 0731-2521046, Ratlam 07412-1072, Nagda 07366-1072, Bhopal 0755-4001606 and 0755-56508 and Habibganj 0755-4001603 and 0755-55551.