After over five hours of high drama, a New Delhi-bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express was freed from Maoist-backed tribal activists who held the train hostage at a station in West Bengal's West Midnapore district on Tuesday.
Timeline of the Rajdhani crisis:
2.30 pm: Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express passes Banstala station in West Midnapore district. The train was stopped by around 500 tribals armed with bows and arrows. They took over the driver’s cabin and surrounded the train. They then took the driver to a nearby area.
4.00 pm: Security forces begin firing at the tribals.
4.30 pm: Negotiations begin between tribals and Railway officials. Tribals give food and water to the passengers in the train.
5.00 pm: Firing exchanged between the two sides.
6.00 pm: Central forces manage to reach the area and the tribals begin retreating.
7:00 pm: Security forces take full control of the train. The tribals flee into the jungles.
8.00 pm: Relieved train leaves Kharagpur with doctors onboard the train.
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