Incident Summary:

2/28/2009: On Saturday, 60 assailants bombed the Bhalulata Railway Station near Rourkela and abducted two railway officials, including the station master of another railway station, in the tribal-dominated Sundargarh district. The Maoists, several of them women, used landmines and powerful explosives. The station building was nearly destroyed. Train services on the Tatanagar-Rourkela route, under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway, and train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route were interrupted due to the attacks. No one was injured in the explosion. On 20090301, the victims were released. No group claimed responsibility, but it was widely believed the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) was responsible.

GTD ID:
200902280009

When:
2009-02-28

Country:
India

Region:
South Asia

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Orissa

City:
Near Rourkela

Location Details:
The attack took place near Rourkela, Sundargarh.

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Bombing/Explosion
Type of Attack (more) Hostage Taking (Kidnapping)
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Transportation
Name of Entity Bhalulata Railway Station
Specific Description The Bhalulata Railway Station
Nationality of Target India
Additional Information
Hostages Yes
Number of Hostages 2
US Hostages 0
Days of Kidnapping 1
Outcome Hostage(s) released by perpetrators
Ransom No
Property Damage Yes
Extent of Property Damage Unknown
Value of Property Damage Unknown
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Explosives Land Mine
Explosives Unknown Explosive Type
Weapon Details
Landmines and other unknown explosives were used in the attack.
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) No
Additional Information The available sources listed the number of perpetrators for this attack from 60 to 70, and because no majority figures were reported, the lowest proferred perpetrator figures were used in order to preserve statistical accuracy in the database. The attack would also be coded as IED definitely not because landmines were also used in the attack.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Communist Party of India - Maoist (CPI-Maoist) (suspected) No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 60
Number of Captured Perpetrators 0
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 0 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 0
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
Indiaexpress, Debabrata Mohanty, "Maoists Blow up Rly Station in Orissa," http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maoists-blow-up-rly-station-in-orissa/429322/ (March 01, 2009).
National Counterterrorism Center, "Two Railway Employees Kidnapped by Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist in Sundargarh, Orissa, India," Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, December 11, 2009.
National Counterterrorism Center, "One Railway Station Damaged in Bombing by Suspected Communist Party of India-Maoist in Sundargarh, Orissa, India" Worldwide Incidents Tracking System, December 11, 2009.