The attack was carried out by militants belonging to the Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel Garlosa group), who opened fire on the train using automatic weapons as it left the Wadrengdisa station under Maibong police station, 60 km from here, in North Cachar Hills district.
"The train slowed down at the Wadrandisa station to allow some passengers to disembark when a large group of heavily armed Black Widow militants waiting at the edge of the platform opened indiscriminate gunfire using automatic weapons," Mr HC Timung, a senior official, said over phone from Maibong, close to the location where the incident took place.
A CRPF jawan, Anil Tiwari, who was injured in the firing, died on the way to the hospital. "Two security personnel, two women, and a child, were among those injured," Mr Timung said. The militants later escaped into the thick jungles nearby. Police reinforcements have been rushed from Haflong, the district headquarters and a manhunt launched to trace the militants.
Militants from the outlawed Jewel Garlosa faction of the DHD, popularly known as the Black Widow, attacked a convoy of central election observers in the district two days ago, although there were no casualties. Elections in the district are scheduled for 16 April in the first phase.