NC4 highlights incidents from over 1000 reported per month. This featured incident provides an overview of the incident and presents selected updates and resources. Featured incidents demonstrate NC4 coverage and timeliness.
India Hostage Situation
April 22, 2009
On April 22nd, 2009, at approximately 7:30am IST, a group of roughly 200 Maoist rebels hijacked a Mughalsarai-bound train of the Dhanbad Eastern Central Railway division in the state of Jharkhand. The nine-coach train, carrying nearly 700 passengers, was stopped near Hehegarha station on its way from Gomoh. Armed with AK-47s, the militants held the train hostage for four hours. Security forces were deployed to rescue the passengers, but the Maoists reportedly retreated into the jungle before they arrived at around 11:40am. The hostages were allowed to disembark at Daltangunj station. No injuries were reported.
The incident occurred a day before the second round of voting in India’s general election. The Maoists had encouraged people to boycott the polls and held a strike in Jharkhand that same day. The hijacking was seen a threatening gesture meant to boost participation in the boycott.
Selected Updates
NC4 Incident Monitoring Center issued the following alerts:
- Up to 700 train passengers have been taken hostage by Maoist rebels in India’s Jharkhand. 04/21/09 22:21 PDT
- Train passengers taken hostage; buildings, train station, and vehicles affected by an explosion in Jharkhand. 04/21/09 22:43 PDT
- Jharkhand Government Official says that the train incident “is not a hijacking situation. 04/21/09 22:58 PDT
- About 100 local villagers reportedly involved in train hostage situation. 04/21/09 23:11 PDT
- A train with up to 700 passengers that was stopped in Jharkhand province has been released. 04/22/09 03:09 PDT
- No injuries were reported after a 700 passenger train was seized on Wednesday. 04/22/09 11:29 PDT
Additional Resources
NC4 provides ongoing updates to members as the incident unfolds through the National Incident Monitoring Center (NIMC). NIMC analysts follow the incident using official government sources and regional media sources - linking to the Pakistan News article “Maoists Hijack Train in India’s Jharkhand State” - including images from the scene, situational updates, and eye-witness accounts.
 One-page printable summary with graphics
This site is protected by copyright and trademark laws under U.S. and International law.
All rights reserved. © 2010 NC4
|
