Date:16/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/16/stories/2006051611511200.htm

National

Fresh probe ordered into 2002 Rajdhani accident

PATNA: In a surprise move, the Bihar Government has decided to conduct a fresh probe into the 2002 Rajdhani Express accident near Rafiganj. It has ordered recording of statements of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, whose party was in power then, and top State police officials for allegedly trying to "influence the course of investigation."

DIG (Magadh range) Arvind Kumar Pandey said in his report he had ordered recording of statements of Mr. Lalu Prasad, then DGP R.R. Prasad and former Superintendent of Police of Aurangabad Sunil Kumar Jha for allegedly "trying to influence the course of investigation."

He said the move followed the revelation that the sabotage was done by the Maoist rebels under "a conspiracy hatched during the erstwhile RJD regime to defame (the then Railway Minister) Nitish Kumar."

After a prolonged sparring over the tragedy between the Railways and the erstwhile RJD Government which ended recently, with Mr. Lalu Prasad asserting that there was no lapse on the part of the Railways leading to the disaster, the arrest of a naxalite leader Sanjay Yadav from Khwaspur village in naxal-hit Gaya district on February 6 has led to the conspiracy theory.

A fresh FIR has been lodged at Sone Nagar railway police station under Aurangabad district in connection with the September 9, 2002 accident. — PTI