The windowpane of Executive Chair Car Coach was damaged in the stone pelting between Meramandali and Budhapank railway stations in Angul-Dhenkanal Railway Section of the East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Sunday evening.

The ECoR had taken the matter seriously and assigned the case to RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP). Both the security wings of the Railways with the help of the local police had started investigation.

The RPF post at Talcher and the Crime Investigation Branch (CIB) of RPF at Khurda Road launched an operation to nab the miscreants. On Tuesday evening, they detained two persons from an isolated spot beside the train tracks.

During questioning, the duo admitted that they had pelted stones at Vande Bharat Express for fun after consuming liquor. Both accused have been forwarded to the JMFC court in Dhenkanal after the arrest.

Taking cognizance of the barbaric and ghastly act narrated in the petition filed by human rights activists Radhakanta Tripathy, the panel has sought a response from the three authorities within 15 days. “In case, the commission does not receive a reply from you (the officials) within the stipulated time, it may exercise the powers of civil courts and issue summons for your appearance in person or by a representative before the commission,” the NCST stated in its July 4 notice.

Hands of Angad Mallick (29) from Baliguda town were chopped off by miscreants at Kalyan railway station (in Maharashtra) while he was on the way to Gujarat in search of work. He was found by his family members at a rescue centre, undergoing treatment after losing his palms, in Gujarat. A police team from Baliguda went to Mumbai on July 3 to inquire into the matter.

Citing similar inhumane incidents from Odisha and other states, the petitioner said the migrant workers continue to suffer as poverty alleviation schemes has failed to benefit them. He also blamed the Odisha government for gross negligence and prolonged inaction. “The sequence of events is barbaric and ghastly in nature and continues unabated due lack of adequate and timely government intervention,” he claimed.

While suggesting some certain short term and long term measures to eradicate distress migration, Tripathy requested the NCST for legal action against the culprits and artificial limb for the victims along with compensation and rehabilitation.