Protesters disrupt rail traffic at several places
KOTA/ BHARATPUR/ ALWAR: Railway traffic was disrupted at several places in Rajasthan due to the Rail Roko agitation of the farmers against the Centre’s farm laws.
The Delhi-mumbai railway track in Gamach region of Bundi remained disrupted for four hours due to the siege of the railway tracks by farmers.
There are also reports of stopping of trains and farmers’ demonstration at railway tracks and platforms in over half a dozen districts.
Effect of the agitation was seen in Jaipur, Alwar, Bundi, Kota, Jhunjhunu and Hanumangarh.
Agitating farmers also demonstrated at Durgapura and Durgapura railway stations in Jaipur. While farmers climbed atop a goods’ train in Gandhinagar, protesters tried to stop trains at Durgapura.
Agitators also went on to siege railway tracks in Chomu in Jaipur.
Agitating farmers led by leader Naresh Meena also blocked railway tracks at Jagatpura in Jaipur.
A railway official of North West railways informed that over eight passenger trains were affected due to the agitation on Thursday. However, railway traffic was resumed after 4 pm.
On the call of the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, farmers led by Dulichand Borda, Mahendra Neh and others demonstrated against the three farm laws at the Delhi-mumbai railway track in Gamach region. Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government railway police (GRP) personnel were deployed along the track to avert any mishap.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities of Kota railway division also halted railway traffic on Delhi-mumbai track.
A railway official said, “Railway traffic has been kept on halt as precautionary measures on intelligence input to prevent any untoward incident.”
He said that more than a dozen trains were affected due to the farmers’ protest. “Adequate security personnel of the RPF have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident,” he added.
Dulichand Borda said, “We are carrying out peaceful agitation at railway tracks and will not do harm any railway property.”
Meanwhile, farmer organizations also stopped intercity express train at Sawai Madhopur.
However, railway traffic resumed on Delhi-mumbai railway route when all the agitating farmers left after 4 pm.
Similarly, farmers protesting at Shahjahanpur on Rajasthanharyana border also agitated at the railway track in Ajirka and Malakheda in Alwar.
Superintendent of Alwar Railway station Rang Lal Meena said that three trains were stopped for security reasons before entering Alwar.
Meanwhile, farmers staged protest inside railway station in Bharatpur.
They blamed that the central government of exploiting the farmers in the country.
Adequate police force deployed at the rail routes and stations prevented farmers from going over the railway track.
Farmer leader Manudev Sinsini said the agitation will continue till the central government doesn’t agree to withdraw the farm laws.
RPF Inspector, Kota, Manish Kumar said that sufficient police force remained deployed at the railway tracks in view of farmers’ agitation to avert untoward incident.