Maoists derail goods train, assault firm guards

A goods train was derailed after suspected Maoists removed joints of two railway tracks in Dantewada district of Chattisgarh.

A goods train was derailed after suspected Maoists removed joints of two railway tracks in Dantewada district of Chattisgarh on Saturday, police said.

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Seven wagons of the empty goods train were derailed between Kamalur and Bhanshi railway stations in the district, about 425 km from the state capital, Kirandul police said.

There were no injuries in the incident, they said.

It was found out that joints of the two railway tracks had been removed, they added.

In a separate incident in Kirandul of Dantewada district, a group of Maoists assaulted some security guards of the ESSAR iron ore plant, asking them to discontinue work, police said.

The ESSAR plant in Kirandul transports iron ore to its steel plant in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The naxalites had on March 5, exploded a railway engine and damaged the Bhansi railway station by detonating landmines in an attempt to stop export of iron ore from Bailadila.