The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has made significant progress in its investigation into the Balasore train accident that occurred on June 2 in Odisha’s Balasore district. The CBI has arrested three railway officials—Arun Kumar Mahanta, Mohammad Amir Khan, and Pappu Kumar—holding them accountable for their alleged actions that led to the tragic incident. The arrests were made under sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Initially, the case was registered by the Odisha police based on a first information report (FIR). However, after a month-long investigation, the CBI decided to add the stringent sections of IPC, indicating culpable homicide and the destruction of evidence. Although the exact roles played by the arrested individuals have not been disclosed, a senior officer mentioned that they were taken into custody for their actions that contributed to the accident, resulting in the loss of at least 293 lives.
The CBI’s actions come shortly after the Commissioner of Railways Safety (CRS) submitted its findings. The report highlighted faulty signaling caused by two failed repair works, one in 2018 and the other just hours before the accident, which led to the collision between the Coromandel Express and a goods train on a separate track. The CRS report emphasized that diligent monitoring and rectification of the recurring signaling issues could have prevented the tragedy and potentially saved lives.
The CBI investigation is now focused on determining any potential attempts, abetment, or conspiracy behind the incident. In the initial FIR, the CBI had invoked several sections of the law, including 304A (causing death by negligence), sections 337 and 338 (related to endangering the lives of others), and sections 153, 154, and 175 of the Railways Act, which deal with endangering lives.
The Balasore train accident took place at the Bahanaga Bazar station, involving the Coromandel Express colliding with a goods train carrying iron ore. The impact of the collision caused compartments to derail and hit the last two cars of the Howrah-bound Yesvantpur Express, resulting in a devastating scene. The CRS report emphasized the need for vigilance and timely rectification of signaling issues to prevent similar incidents.
As the CBI’s investigation progresses, further details regarding the alleged actions of the arrested railway officials and any potential underlying causes behind the accident are expected to come to light.
Sources By Agencies
