CHENNAI, MARCH 22: A crude bomb planted on a railway track near Cuddalore Port junction went off on Tuesday night, disrupting train services bound for south Tamil Nadu for over three hours.The bomb, suspected to be planted by cadres of the Tamil Nadu Liberation Force (TNLF), was placed on the track meant for trains going towards Chidambaram and went off around 9.30 pm near Soorpanaickenchavadi, between Tiruppapuliyur and Cuddalore Port Junction.About three feet of the track was damaged in the impact of the explosion. The blast occurred about half-an-hour before the Rameswaram-bound express train from Chennai was to pass by. Police sources said they recovered TNLF leaflets protesting US President Bill Clinton's visit and containing messages such as ``Down with US Imperialism'' from the blast site.The Chennai-Quilon, Kamban and Rameswaram Expresses and Tanjore passengers were regulated due to the incident. Railway staff rectified the damage by around 2.45 am on Wednesday, after which the services were restored.Railway and local police personnel rushed to the spot to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry and ascertain more inputs about the explosion. The sources said three special police teams had been formed to apprehend the culprits.Meanwhile, State DGP F C Sharma told The Indian Express that the police had specific information on the identities of the people behind the blast. ``We are taking all necessary steps to apprehend the culprits and in this, we also seek the help and cooperation of the public,'' he added.Questioned about Naxalite activities in the state, the DGP acknowledged that some `minor' Left extremist groups were functioning, especially in Dharmapuri and Perambulur districts.
