Train Hijack: It was the year 2009 when Naxalite violence was at its peak in India. Then Naxalites hijacked an express train in Jharkhand at night. Then they surrounded the train.

Baloch rebels in Balochistan, Pakistan have hijacked Zafar Express. This is a big news all over the world. Maybe this thing has gone out of people's mind, but in India too, 16 years ago in Jharkhand, when a Rajdhani Express train was hijacked at night, there was a stir in the whole country. The government machinery became active. This was the time when Naxalite violence was at its peak in the country. After hijacking the train, the Naxalites surrounded it from all sides.

This incident happened in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand on 22 October 2009, when Maoist Naxalites took control of Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. There were about 1000 passengers in the train.

The train had started from Bhubaneswar. It had to complete its entire journey in Jharkhand and Bihar at night. As soon as this train entered Jharkhand at night, no one had any idea what was going to happen to the train. Everything was fine till 12 in the night. As soon as the train entered West Singhbhum district, some people started bursting crackers and showing red flags around the track about two kilometers ahead. Anyway, the speed of Rajdhani Express is high, even more at night.

Large wooden logs were kept on the track

It was strange that why around 2.30 in the night people were standing on both sides of the track with lanterns and red flags. People standing on both sides of the track were signaling the train to stop. The driver reduced the speed a bit to understand what the matter was. In the forest between Bano and Raikera stations of West Singhbhum district, he saw that big wooden logs were kept ahead on the track. The driver had to stop the train. The train stopped in a desolate forest.

250 Naxalites surrounded the train

Then, about 200-250 armed Naxalites surrounded the train and took it under their control. This area was one of the Naxal-affected areas, where Maoist organizations were constantly carrying out violent activities to maintain their presence and influence.

Controlled the guard and driver at gunpoint

The Naxalites carried out this hijack in a planned manner. First, they created an obstruction on the railway track so that the train could be stopped. The Naxalites placed wooden logs and stones on the track, due to which the train driver was forced to stop the train. After this, a large group of armed Naxalites came out of the forest and spread around the train. They took the train driver and guard under their control at gunpoint. They stopped them from moving the train forward.

Told the passengers that they will not harm them

The Naxalites fired bullets in the air to scare the passengers. They started entering the train compartments. They established their control over the train's engine and some coaches. During this, they told the passengers that they would not harm them, but this action is to demonstrate their protest against the government. The Naxalites also affected the power supply of the train so that the communication and security system could be weakened.

How long did the hijack last

This hijack lasted for about four hours. It started at 2:30 am. This incident continued till 6:30 am, when the Naxalites suddenly returned to the forest. During this time, the Naxalites kept the train in their possession and prevented the passengers from getting out. Their aim was not to spread violence or harm the passengers, but to put pressure on the government and security forces. This incident happened at a time when preparations were going on for the assembly elections in Jharkhand. The Naxalites tried to show their strength and disrupt the election process through this hijack.

Why was this hijack done

The Naxalites also used this incident as propaganda. They claimed that the action was a protest against the policies of the government, especially those that ignored the interests of the tribal communities. Through the hijack, they drew the attention of the media and the public.

By then the Naxalites had disappeared into the forest

As soon as the incident was reported, the local police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) swung into action. However, due to the dense forest and the large number of Naxalites, immediate action was delayed. Around 4:00 am, teams of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jharkhand Police reached the spot. The Naxalites had already made their strategy. They disappeared into the forest before the security forces could reach. The security forces checked the train and evacuated the passengers safely. After this, the train was sent off.

Then security was increased in trains

The government decided to intensify anti-Naxal operations after this incident. Operations like Operation Green Hunt were further strengthened, which aimed to reduce Naxal activities. This incident also created an atmosphere of fear among the public, especially those who traveled from Naxal-affected areas. The Railways then tightened security measures, which included increasing surveillance of trains at night and deployment of additional security forces in Naxal areas.

In 2009, the Naxal movement was spread in many states of India, including states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal. However, the Naxal problem has not been completely eradicated even today.

When hijacking happened in Jharkhand in 2006

13 March 2006 – Barwadi-Mughalsarai train hijack (Jharkhand):
This incident happened in Latehar district of Jharkhand, where Naxalites hijacked the Barwadi-Mughalsarai passenger train. This hijacking happened around 7:30 pm. The train was stopped in the forest. Naxalites kept it in their possession for a few hours. Then released it.

After 2009: No major train hijacking incident has come to light. The reason for this may be better security measures and reduction in Naxalite influence.

Train hijacked to release a leader from jail

1994: Bombay-Madgaon Express hijacking: A group of armed men hijacked a train in India demanding the release of a jailed politician.

When terrorists hijacked a train for 20 days

1975 incident - On 2 December 1975, seven South Moluccan terrorists hijacked a train carrying about 50 passengers near Wijster, Netherlands. The hijack lasted for 12 days, killing three hostages. The hijackers were demanding South Moluccan independence, which they had been promised by the Dutch government but was not fulfilled.

1977 incident - On 23 May 1977, nine armed Moluccan nationalists hijacked a train near De Punt, Netherlands, taking 50 passengers hostage. The hijack lasted for 20 days and ended in an attack by Dutch special forces, killing six hijackers and two hostages.

Lincheng Train Hijacking in China (1923)

On May 5, 1923, a train called the “Blue Express” was hijacked by 1,200 bandits (mostly ex-military) on the Tianjin-Pukou Railway in China. The incident took place near Lincheng. The bandits looted the train, killed several Chinese passengers and a British citizen, and took 300 passengers hostage for 10 days in mountainous terrain. The incident reflects the lawlessness of the time and the power of bandits, which even affected the Chinese government.

Other Train Hijackings

1975: Occupation of Wounded Knee: American Indian Movement activists hijacked a train in South Dakota to protest Native American rights.

1978: Sydney Train Hijacking: A man hijacked a train in Sydney, Australia and held passengers hostage for several hours.