The Pro-Tamil group's protest against visit of Sri Lankan president Mahenda Rajkapsa turned violent on Saturday when suspected pro-tamil activists blasted railway tracks, just before a passenger train was to enter Perani railway station in Villupuram district, some 70 km south of Chennai in the wee hours.
Luckily for the passengers of the Tiruchirapalli-Chennai Rockfort Express , railway authorities advised the train driver to apply emergency breaks, thus averting a major tragedy. The blast, that was triggered off around 2 am ripped the tracks and formed a three feet wide crater just before the express was to enter the Perani station, police and railway sources said.
Pamphlets found at the blast site suggested the involvement of pro-Tamil groups that have been protesting the visit of the Sri Lankan president to India. The pro-Tamil groups hold the Sri Lankan president and the Island nation government responsible for the genocide of innocent Tamils in May last year when strong military action stamped out LTTE and killed its supremo Prabhakaran. Pamphlets comdemning the visit were found at the blast site, sources said.
For the train passengers in the state, the day began with uncertainty and inordinate delays as all trains from South Tamil Nadu to the state capital of Chennai were either halted or diverted . Train services were delayed by over four hours in the morning, railway authorities said. Slowly they are being restored, after the necessary security clearances, sources said.
{{/usCountry}}For the train passengers in the state, the day began with uncertainty and inordinate delays as all trains from South Tamil Nadu to the state capital of Chennai were either halted or diverted . Train services were delayed by over four hours in the morning, railway authorities said. Slowly they are being restored, after the necessary security clearances, sources said.
{{/usCountry}}Police sources, who have ruled out Maoist hand in the blast suspect the involvement of pro-Tamil groups as pamphlets hailing LTTE supremo Prabhakaran and condemning the visit of the Sri Lankan president were found at the site.