<p>Authorities are yet to make a breakthrough in the Saturday’s Maoist attack case that claimed three lives but the tragic story of an ill-fated policeman trickled in on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Maoists on Saturday evening attacked Sahebganj-Danapur Intercity Express and gunned down three policemen and looted five sophisticated weapons.<br /><br />Ashok Kumar, a havildar posted with the Bihar Military Police (BMP), was among the three killed policemen. <br /><br />Originally, Ashok was not supposed to lead the escort party in the train which crosses through the dense forest area between Ratanpur and Jamalpur railway stations. <br /><br />However, the policeman who was supposed to lead the escort party, suddenly fell ill. <br />Ashok, in his late 50s, was eventually asked to substitute for him, as a havildar-rank official has to escort a passenger train.<br /><br />Only a few days ago, Ashok had applied for leave for his daughter’s wedding, which was slated for next month. But when he, along with two constables —Bhola Thakur and Uday Sahi — got on the train, little did he know that this was his last journey.<br /><br />Nearly 200 km before reaching Patna, the train was stopped by armed marauders who rained bullets from outside. <br /><br />While Ashok, Bhola and Uday died in the indiscriminate firing, the two injured jawans – Imtiaz and Vinay— were rushed to Jamalpur railway hospital where they are recuperating.<br /><br />“The Maoists overpowered the cops and looted five sophisticated weapons—an AK-47, an Insas rifle, an SLR (self-loading rifle), a carbine and a .303 rifle from the policemen before escaping under the cover of darkness,” Deputy Inspector General (Railways) K S Anupam told Deccan Herald on Sunday. <br /><br />“We have launched a massive manhunt to trace the culprits and hope of an early breakthrough,” she added.</p>
<p>Authorities are yet to make a breakthrough in the Saturday’s Maoist attack case that claimed three lives but the tragic story of an ill-fated policeman trickled in on Sunday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Maoists on Saturday evening attacked Sahebganj-Danapur Intercity Express and gunned down three policemen and looted five sophisticated weapons.<br /><br />Ashok Kumar, a havildar posted with the Bihar Military Police (BMP), was among the three killed policemen. <br /><br />Originally, Ashok was not supposed to lead the escort party in the train which crosses through the dense forest area between Ratanpur and Jamalpur railway stations. <br /><br />However, the policeman who was supposed to lead the escort party, suddenly fell ill. <br />Ashok, in his late 50s, was eventually asked to substitute for him, as a havildar-rank official has to escort a passenger train.<br /><br />Only a few days ago, Ashok had applied for leave for his daughter’s wedding, which was slated for next month. But when he, along with two constables —Bhola Thakur and Uday Sahi — got on the train, little did he know that this was his last journey.<br /><br />Nearly 200 km before reaching Patna, the train was stopped by armed marauders who rained bullets from outside. <br /><br />While Ashok, Bhola and Uday died in the indiscriminate firing, the two injured jawans – Imtiaz and Vinay— were rushed to Jamalpur railway hospital where they are recuperating.<br /><br />“The Maoists overpowered the cops and looted five sophisticated weapons—an AK-47, an Insas rifle, an SLR (self-loading rifle), a carbine and a .303 rifle from the policemen before escaping under the cover of darkness,” Deputy Inspector General (Railways) K S Anupam told Deccan Herald on Sunday. <br /><br />“We have launched a massive manhunt to trace the culprits and hope of an early breakthrough,” she added.</p>
