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| Indian Maoists free seized train | Indian Maoists free seized train |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Maoist rebels who seized a train carrying several hundred passengers in eastern India have released them, police say. | Maoist rebels who seized a train carrying several hundred passengers in eastern India have released them, police say. |
| Up to 250 rebels took over the train as it travelled through Jharkhand state and forced it to stop in a remote town. | Up to 250 rebels took over the train as it travelled through Jharkhand state and forced it to stop in a remote town. |
| They held the passengers for a short time but then withdrew. A Maoist spokesman there was no plan to cause harm and it was a symbolic gesture. | |
| It came a day before the second round of voting in India's general election. | |
| The rebels have asked people to boycott the polls, which are taking place until 13 May. | |
| At least 17 people were killed in attacks blamed on Maoists during the first stage of the election last week. | |
| 'Fled to the jungle' | |
| "All the passengers have been released and they are safe," Sarvendu Tathagat, a local government official in Jharkhand, told Reuters news agency. | |
| "They (the rebels) left the train and fled into the jungles." | |
| The hostage-takers were reportedly protesting against the death of five villagers allegedly shot by troops last week. | |
| The troops said the five were local Maoists, who were killed during a clash following an attack in which two soldiers died. | |
| Maoists operate in 182 districts in India, mainly in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and West Bengal. | |
| The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless workers. | |
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