Kolkata, Dec 31 : Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee warned the Maoists not to target railways and at innocent passengers to pressurise the government to give in to their demands.

Speaking after flag off six new trains from the Howrah station here on Wednesday, Mamata Banerjee said: "I want to tell those who carry out subversive activities and play with the human lives that if you want to fight, fight politically, fight like a brave not a coward."

Baffled over Maoists removing fish plates along 400 metres of railway tracks near Gidhni in West Midnapore on Wednesday, she said Maoists are fighting like cowards and targeting the railways.

"Sabotaging trains, killing people is fighting like cowards," she added.

Asserting that she was not politically biased while discharging her duty as the Railway Minister, she pointed out that passenger security was her topmost concern.

She also announced that any person who helped the railway avoid accidents would be rewarded.

The trains which were flagged off included the Howrah-Bangaluru (Bangalore) Duranto Express, Howrah-Purulia Express, Howrah-New Delhi Yuva Express, Kolkata-Bikaner Express, Howrah-Haridwar Express and Sealdah-Amritsar Express.

The Sealdah-Amritsar train was flagged off through remote control. (ANI)