New Delhi: A total of 200 train services have been affected due to the ongoing violent protests against ‘Agneepath’, a short-term recruitment scheme in the central government’s army. Hundreds of angry youths torched train coaches against the Agneepath scheme, ransacked railway property and blocked railway tracks and highways with stones.
35 train services have been canceled across the country, while 13 have been short terminated. Around 20 trains under East Central Railway were canceled due to arson, while many others were either short terminated or run on alternate routes. Western Railway canceled two DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit) trains after receiving information about the protest in Indore.
In Uttar Pradesh, a large number of youth vandalized two trains and set fire to a train compartment in the washing line at Ballia railway station.
Police had to open fire to control the angry mob at Secunderabad railway station. One person was killed while eight others were seriously injured in the firing.
North Central Railway said in a statement that due to the ongoing agitation under the jurisdiction of East Central Railway, two trains – 12335 Mumbai LTT SF Express and 12273 Howrah – New Delhi Duronto Express have been canceled. 15483 Alidwarapur-Delhi Mahananda Express and 12505 Kamakhya-Anand Vihar North East Express were also canceled due to protests in various cities.