The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is presently investigating the case of the Hirakhand Express train derailment in Andhra, has reportedly booked a case against Left-wing extremists 

Quoting orders issued on January 25 by the Union Home Ministry, the Deccan Chronicle reported that a case has been booked under Section 150 of the Railways Act and Sections 16 and 18 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. 

The train, which derailed around midnight on January 21, near Kuneru station in Andhra, 24 km from Rayagada in Odisha, left more than 40 people dead and 68 people injured.

The train was en route to Bhubaneswar from Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh.

The DC report also quotes the NIA as saying, "The Centre is of the opinion that the derailment was an act by Left extremists and this is an offence that comes under the NIA Act, 2008."

NIA is already probing the alleged role of Pakistan's Inter Services Agency (ISI) behind the Indore-Patna Express derailment near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh that claimed 150 lives.

Andhra Pradesh's Crime Investigation Department (CID) also visited the accident site and is also investigating the case.

The CID officials include Additional Director General of Police Dwaraka Tirumala Rao and Inspector General of Police Amit Garg.

Earlier, it was reported that officials had not ruled out the involvement of Maoists as the Andhra-Odisha border area is considered a Maoist stronghold.

IANS inputs