The spot where the Maoists ambushed the train on November 30. Telegraph picture

Jamui, Dec. 7: The eastern Bihar and north Jharkhand zonal committee of the CPI(Maoist) has claimed responsibility for the Sahebganj-Danapur Intercity Express attack on November 30 and expressed regret for a nurse who got injured in the ambush.

The spokesperson of the Eastern Bihar and north Jharkhand zonal committee of the banned organisation, Avinash, informed mediapersons that the attack was carried out by the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army, the armed wing of the organisation. He said the operation was carried out to mark the 14th anniversary of the force, observed from December 2-8.

Avinash has also tendered an apology to Munni Devi and her family. Munni, a nurse posted at Kahalgaon primary health centre, was travelling in the same compartment and suffered injuries during the ambush. “We are ashamed over the incident and the organisation would do something for her,” he said.

Avinash, through a press release, has appealed to the personnel of 131st and 215th battalions of Central Reserve Police Force deployed at Jamui to stop torturing innocent villagers.

“Most of you hail from poor families like us but since you became a part of the corrupt system, you blindly obey your higher officers without knowing the impact of your work,” the press release stated. He alleged that there was a nexus between corrupt politicians and senior officials.

Jamui police, which managed to nab a female member of the guerrilla squad, along with two Maoists yesterday, is learnt to have extracted important information during her interrogation today.

Though sources said a lot of information was extracted from the nabbed rebels, Jamui superintendent of police Jitendar Rana refused to share details at a news meet today. He, however, said the police expect some major achievements soon on the basis of the information from the trio.

Among the three arrested, the police has identified the 20-something girl as Sabita Murmu, a member of the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army. “When we surrounded the Giddhashwar hill, she tried to escape towards the forest,” Rana said.

Sabita, hailing from Giridih district in neighbouring Jharkhand, is learnt to very close with area commander Siddhu Koda.

The two other arrested persons were identified as Brahmodev Bhulla (21) and Bhukan Bhulla (26), all residents of Janakpur, under Khaira police station of Jamui.

Sabita was a big catch as the police had failed to nab few female members of the organisation despite the presence of a large number of women cadre.

The last arrest of a woman Maoist was Sunita of Ranchi on June 19, 2007. Sunita and five other members were arrested by the Jamui police near Jabatari hamlet falling under the jurisdiction of Barhet police station. Sunita was going to the nearby Narkol village to supervise preparations of a proposed ninth national congress of the organisation.

A few months before this incident, Jhajha police had nabbed another female Maoist, Rina, who was accompanying Sunil Baitha, son of Maoist-turned-MP from Jharkhand, Kameshwar Baitha.