Indian police blame Maoists for train attack

Maoist rebels in India say they sabotaged a high-speed train that crashed and killed at least 71 people.

At least 200 others were injured when the express derailed and smashed into the path of a goods train. Efforts are continuing to find survivors among the the wreckage of mangled carriages. .

The crash occurred in the early hours of this morning in an area known to be a rebel stronghold. Maoists have increased their attacks in recent months. They say they are fighting for the rights of the poor and landless and want to overthrow the government.

This latest attack is thought to be their biggest strike against a civilian target. India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the insurgency as India’s biggest internal security threat.

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