Utkal Express accident: UP Police rules out terror angle

Khatauli : Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday ruled out terror angle in the tragic Utkal Express derailment near Muzaffarnagar that killed 20 people and injured over 92 people (Railways official figures).

"The ATS is camping there since Saturday. As per investigations done till now, there is no concrete evidence pointing to the role of any terror outfit's involvement in it," Uttar Pradesh Police's ADG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.

"Chances are that the derailment may have occurred due to some other or technical reasons," he added.

On the other hand, the government on Sunday suspended four Northern Railway officials and sent its General Manager on leave after authorities admitted to negligence that may have led to the derailment of the Kalinga Utkal Express train in Uttar Pradesh which claimed 22 lives.

The action, which came nearly 24 hours after the tragedy, was taken based on prima facie evidence, a Railway Ministry statement said.

(With IANS inputs)