Title - Local trains disrupted again, railways suspects sabotage

For the third time in a week, suburban railway services went haywire on Thursday because of sabotage by miscreants. The railways suspects there is a deliberate attempt on to create chaos.
    On Thursday, banana leaves were thrown on the overhead wires at several places in the Baruipur-Lakshmikantapur and Baruipur-Diamond Harbour sections, disrupting services for nearly three hours in peak time. “Suburban trains were running at slow speed due to dense fog in Howrah and Sealdah divisions. Around 7am, banana leaves were thrown on the overhead wires. Tower vans rushed to the spot but as soon as it was cleared, banana leaves were thrown at more places,” said an Eastern Railways official.
    Barely had the banana leaves been cleared, an iron rod was placed in the ‘point’ at Dakshin Barasat station, disabling train services. The ‘point’ is where trains change tracks. Just as the rod was removed, information came in of sleepers being placed on tracks at Mathurapur station around 8.10am. When railway employees tried to remove the sleepers, they were mobbed by miscreants.
    “In the Diamond Harbour section, banana leaves were thrown on wires between Magrahat and Deula stations. Miscreants obstructed our attempts to restore power. Stones were thrown at the tower van. Finally, the restoration work was possible only at 9.57am with the assistance of RPF. Such activity has been going on for the past few days,” the official said.