200 trains affected, 35 cancelled: railways bear brunt of Agnipath protests
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NEW DELHI: the Railways on Friday said that because of the protests more than 200 trains have been affected so far, in connection with the Agnipath, a new scheme for the recruitment to the armed forces.
The national carrier added that since protests have erupted from Wednesday, close to 35 trains have been cancelled while 13 were short-terminated.
The East Central Railways which covers Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh have been affected the worst. These were the states that saw the most widespread protests till date. In addition, the operation of eight trains is also being 'monitored'. Officials said that the movement of these trains is being observed closely and decisions will be taken based on how the situation presents itself.
These trains include: 12303 Howrah - New Delhi Poorva Express, 12353 Howrah - Lalkuan Express , 18622 Ranchi - Patna Patliputra Express, 18182 Danapur - Tata Express, 22387 Howrah - Dhanbad Black Diamond Express, 13512 Asansol - Tata Express, 13032 Jaynagar - Howrah Express and the 13409 Malda Town - Kiul Express.
Two ECR trains that have been cancelled are -- 12335 Malda Town - Lokmanya Tilak (T) Express and the 12273 Howrah - New Delhi Duronto Express. Details about other cancelled trains were not immediately available.
The railways said that three out of several trains run by the North Frontier Railways also pass through the ECR jurisdiction have been hit.
These protesters have aimed their ire against the Centre's Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the armed forces on a short-term contractual basis on trains and railway property.
Violent protesters destroyed the coaches of three running trains in the ECR and an empty rack (in the ECR) in Kulharia. In Balia, Uttar Pradesh, a coach of a stationary train in the washing line was also damaged. Railway officials said it was difficult to assess the damage to fixed assets now.
In Balia, raising slogans 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Agnipath Wapas Lo (withdraw Agnipath scheme)', protesting youths set an empty train on fire and vandalised a few other trains, prompting the police to lathicharge them. Reports of agitators vandalising the Secunderabad Railway Station and setting a train ablaze have also come in.
Source- PTI