New Delhi: Armed Naxal rebels laid siege to Birandih railway station, 55 km off Purulia in West Bengal on Wednesday morning, burning sections of the building and assaulting the station staff.
The rebels - who are on a two-day protest against government's SEZ policy - whisked away three railway staff and RPF personnel from the station building at gunpoint before setting the building on fire.
According to the Special Deputy Commercial Manager K S Mukherjee the rebels also damaged important documents and papers.
Train services on the route were disrupted and schedules were thrown off gear with many long distance trains being forced to divert.
Mukherjee was quoted as saying by news agency PTI that both Purulia police and their Jharkhand counterparts had been informed about the incident and RPF personnel was being rushed to the station.
The two-day economic blockade called by the rebels entered its final day on Wednesday with the Naxals protesting against the state and central government's globalisation, industrialisation and SEZ policies.
Bihar, Jharkhand hit
After blowing up rail tracks in the neighbouring states of Bihar and Jharkhand on Tuesday, the Naxals struck in West Bengal just before dawn.
They also mined the rail tracks, leading to panic in the area.
Agencies report a goods train engine was blown up and another set ablaze in Jharkhand. Bus services were disrupted and many shops were closed.
Rebels also set ablaze five trucks transporting minerals, police said.
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