Punjab, Haryana and the northwest are the first to bear the brunt of the “Rail Roko” called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday.

More than 70 trains were interrupted in 130 locations in Punjab and Haryana alone. SKM had called for the interruption of rail traffic from 10 am to 4 pm, and requested the immediate arrest and dismissal of Ajay Mishra, the junior Union home minister, from the cabinet in response to the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. According to sources from the Ministry of Railways, services in nearly 184 locations in the three states and Rajasthan have been affected, and the operation of nearly 210 trains in seven regions, including northeastern and western India, has been hindered. The biggest impact occurred in the northern region, which was the center of the six-hour protest.

According to sources, as many as 42 trains, including many short-distance trains, had to be cancelled, and 30 of them had to be cancelled only in areas below the Northern Railway. Out of the total 50 trains that were partially cancelled across the seven zones, 31 were from northern Railways.

Farmers in Devidaspura near Amritsar obstructed the Amritsar-Delhi railway track. In Tarn Taran, farmers led by United Kisan Morcha conveners Mukhtar Singh Malla and Amritpal Singh Joda sat on the rails. In many places, including Ferozepur, protesters began to gather near railway tracks as early as 5 am. The protesting farmers carefully arranged “langar” for passengers at the railway station. In Rohtak, Haryana, protesters on the Rohtak junction, Lakhan Majra, Lahali, Makdoli and Rohad railway tracks waved BKU flags and held high slogans against the government. Officials said that four trains including Chandigarh-Shatabdi in New Delhi were completely cancelled, while 14 mail and express trains in Ambala were suspended.

In several areas in the UP and Terai districts of western Uttarakhand, farmers squatted on railroad tracks, delayed trains for several hours and stranded passengers at stations.

News Source : The Times Of India