Government Railway Police have locked horns with senior officers of Malda division of Eastern Railway after accusing junior section engineer Satish Suman of dereliction of duty leading to the derailment of Gaya-Howrah Express last Sunday.

A major mishap was averted when engine driver K. Tiwary applied emergency brakes when he detected a crack on the tracks between Gogha and Lailak on Kiul-Sahabganj loop sections because of loose welding. Mukesh Kumar, a member of the GRP escort party on the train, lodged an FIR at Bhagalpur GRP police station on Monday.

Senior railway officers, however, have accused the GRP of over-stepping their jurisdiction. “The engineer has already been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been initiated. It is unconstitutional for the GRP to interfere in the case,” said Ravindra Gupta, divisional railway manager, Malda, adding that Eastern Railway general manager G.C. Agarwal has asked the probe team to complete investigation in 10 days (March 13).