Soon after Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Left-backed trade unions for disrupting train services, the ruling CPM countered the allegations and claimed Trinamool Congress men, hand in glove with Maoists, were behind the delays.

Senior leaders of the party on Saturday said they had evidence to prove Trinamool activists were involved in the sabotage incident of December 29.

A group of miscreants had removed the fish plate from railway tracks at Jhargram in Maoist-infested West Midnapore on December 29 — the Purushottam Express had a close shave, officials said.

Banerjee had criticised the Maoists a day after the incident and also blamed the Left unions for creating trouble in maintaining regular train services, especially those of the locals.

Mohammad Selim, former MP and CPM spokesman, said they have evidence that Trinamool activists were engaged in the act of sabotage. “We believe the railway minister had been informed about the involvement of her own party workers in the heinous act. Why no complaint was lodged after the ploy was unearthed? Why the railway authorities are still silent about the incident?” asked Selim.

CPM sources said the party headquarters at Alimuddin Street had asked for a report from district committee after the incident. The committee, in its report, had said the incident took place between Gidhni and Khatkura stations.

“Three local Trinamool leaders took active part in removing the fish plates. They were assisted by one Dhanapati Mahato, a leader of Maoist-backed People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities,” the report claimed.