Midnapore: The People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA) has denied any role in the derailment of a train in West Bengal and accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) of "hatching a plot" to malign Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee.
"We have no intention to target trains and we condemn and mourn such a colossal loss of civilian lives," PCPA convener Asit Mahato told PTI over telephone.
The West Bengal police accuse the PCPA, which is accused of having the support of Maoist rebels, of derailing the Gyaneshwari Express near Jhargram town on Friday that led to the death of 138 people.
The police claim they have identified two PCPA members, who were recently released on bail and had a hand in the derailment of the train's 13 coaches.
"Politically motivated statements are being issued to separate us from the masses," said Mahato while denying the allegation.
"We will take out a procession in to mourn the dead in the train disaster. We strongly condemn such acts which take lives of common, innocent men and we express deep shock."
Mahto accused four CPI-M leaders in Jhargram and Midnapore district of “triggering a train mishap” to malign the PCPA. "Under their leadership, the CPI-M has opened camps in the last 15 days at Burjoli, Kolla, Patri and Dahimara villages close to Sardiha where the express train derailed."
He alleged the four CPI-M leaders "conspired to create panic by triggering a train mishap and the objective is to malign us and take us away from the people by creating a bad name for us."
The "CPI-M has plans to politically isolate Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee so that she is forced to resign under directive of the UPA government after the train mishap”.
"We strongly protest against such a conspiracy by the CPI-M which led to such a heinous crime," Mahato said.
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