Five accused of Assam train blast arrested in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Dec 17 (IANS) Five people, alleged to have been involved in a blast on a train in Assam last year, were arrested in Jharkhand, an official said Wednesday.

'We have arrested five persons who were accused of causing blast in Rajdhani Express in December last year. The arrested persons are members of the All Adivasi Liberation Army (AALA),' Baljeet Singh, Gumla district superintendent of police, told IANS by phone.

The arrested people includes Mangra Orana alias David Tirkey alias Nirmal Tirkey who is a commander of the AALA.

According to the police, the AALA is trying to spread its tentacles in Jharkhand by citing examples of repression of Jharkhand tribals living in Assam.

According to a police official, the arrested members of the AALA will be handed over to the Assam police after completing court formalities.

At least five people were killed and four others injured Dec 13, 2007, in a powerful explosion on the Rajdhani Express.

The blast took place around 1.05 a.m. on the prestigious express train near Chungajan in Golaghat district, about 270 km east of Guwahati.