WRECKAGE OF TRAIN AT LUMDING STATION, WOUNDED IN HOSPITAL. 55 DIED IN THIS EXPLOSION AND 120 WERE INJURED.




Initials JRG/VS/JF/BB



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Background: SABOTEURS HAVE BLOWN UP TWO TRAINS IN FOUR DAYS IN THE ASSAM AREA OF INDIA, KILLING 95 PEOPLE AND INJURING 185.

A TIME BOMB IN A COMPARTMENT CAUSED THE FIRST EXPLOSION WHILE THE TRAIN WAS HALTED AT A STATION. IT PITCHED THE WHOLE AREA INTO DARKNESS AND CUT TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES, HAMPERING THE URGENT CALLS FOR HELP FOR THE WOUNDED.

MUTILATED BODIES AND LIMBS WERE SCATTERED ABOUT -- MANY OF THE DEAD AND INJURED WERE STANDING ON THE STATION PLATFORM SEEING OFF FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

BOTH TRAINS WERE BLOWN UP ON THE SAME SECTION OF THE LINE OF THE NORTH EAST FRONTIER RAILWAY AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE LAID ACCUSATIONS THAT TRIBESMEN FROM NEARBY NAGA TERRITORY ARE RESPONSIBLE. A TOTAL OF 394 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED ON THIS STRETCH OF LINE THIS YEAR.

THE NAGAS HAVE FOR LONG SOUGHT INDEPENDENCE FROM INDIA AND HAVE RESORTED TO GUERRILLA WARFARE TO PRESS THEIR DEMANDS.

(THE TWO BLASTS COME SCARCELY A WEEK AFTER NAGA TRIBESMEN LEFT NEW DELHI AFTER THREE MEETINGS WITH MRS. INDIRA GANDHI, THE PRIME MINISTER, STATING THAT THE TRUCE HAD BEEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED. THE UNEASY CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN IN FORCE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS AFTER THE 10-YEAR REBELLION AGAINST INDIAN RULE.)