PTI

Sagar Island (WB)/Kishanganj, January 5

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday claimed that the Vande Bharat Express was pelted with stones in neighbouring Bihar, and never in her state.

She stated authorized motion shall be taken in opposition to these media shops that unfold “fake news” that the incident befell in West Bengal, bringing a foul identify to the state.

Almost proving her level, three minor boys have been caught by the police in Kishanganj district of Bihar on Thursday in reference to the incident the place stones have been hurled on the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express prepare when it passes via Bihar for a brief leg of its journey.

“Vande Bharat was pelted with stones in Bihar and not in West Bengal. We will take legal action against those media outlets that telecast fake news that the incident took place in West Bengal and brought a bad name to our state,” Banerjee informed reporters earlier than leaving Sagar Island.

“Vande Bharat is nothing special. It is just an old train refurbished with a new engine,” Banerjee, a former Railway Minister herself, stated.

She concluded her two-day go to to the island to supervise the preparations for the Gangasagar Mela that begins on January 8.

The Vande Bharat Express was on Tuesday pelted with stones for the second consecutive day. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30.

Eastern Railways CPRO informed PTI that after scanning video footage, it was discovered that Monday’s stone-pelting incident on Vande Bharat Express befell in Malda district and Tuesday’s occurred in Kishanganj district of Bihar, and efforts are underway to nab the perpetrators.

The first incident precipitated a glass door to crack, whereas the second broken home windows. No accidents to passengers, nevertheless, have been reported within the incidents.

According to an announcement issued by the Kishanganj police, a case was registered on Thursday morning in reference to the incident.

“Four boys, all aged 14 years and residents of Nimalgaon in Potiya police station area, were identified. Three of them were caught and produced before the juvenile justice board. A search is on for the fourth”, stated the police.

The semi-high velocity electrical prepare, working between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri, each in West Bengal, passes via Bihar with a quick halt at Barsoi in Katihar district, adjoining Kishanganj.

Vande Bharat Express between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri railway stations was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30 and industrial service on the route began on January 1.

The incidents sparked a slugfest between the BJP and Trinamool Congress.

The saffron celebration caught to its demand for a probe by National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“Probe is not yet over. We stick to our demand for an NIA probe to bring out the truth. We believe the stone-pelting incidents were a fallout of an incident that took place during the inauguration of the train in Howrah station last week,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya stated.

BJP employees had raised ‘Jai Shree Ram’ slogans on the inauguration ceremony, following which Banerjee refused to get on the dais from the place the prepare was flagged off.

TMC had criticised the elevating of a “political slogan” at a authorities operate, whereas BJP leaders had tried to downplay the incident.