25 trains cancelled, 1,500 held as farmers’ stir derails Punjab

Sarbjit Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 7

Rail services were badly affected in various parts of Punjab today as farmers began their two-day “rail roko” agitation to protest the non-fulfilment of their demands and “anti-farmer” policies of the SAD-BJP government.

* Editorial: Nuisance of ‘rail roko’

Twenty-three trains were cancelled in the Ferozepur division, which caters to Jalandhar, Amritsar, Bathinda and other districts in the Malwa belt, as farmers protested on rail tracks at 13 locations. Two trains were cancelled in Ambala division (caters to Ropar and adjoining areas). Several trains had to be diverted in both divisions.

The protesters, belonging to eight farmer bodies, claimed more than 1,500 union leaders and activists had been detained by the police over the past 24 hours, though there was no official account. 

The police, it is learnt, started swooping down on farmer leaders — several of whom had gone into hiding — from late last evening. A large number of them were detained while they were proceeding towards rail tracks today.

Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta-Ugrahan) leader, said the protest would continue on Thursday. He said any decision on intensifying the agitation would also be taken on Thursday. In Ludhiana, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal accused the union leaders of misguiding the farmers. “It is painful that some farmer unions are politicising issues related to farmers for petty gains. CM Parkash Singh Badal is concerned about the farmers and will address their problems,” he said. 

The blockade took place at Chand Bhan (Faridkot), Khudi Kalan (Barnala), Lehragaga (Sangrur), Rampura (Bathinda), Shergarh (Bathinda), Pathrala (Bathinda), Mansa, Dagru (Moga), Mahuwal (Ferozepur), Lohian (Kapurthala) and Jhok Tehal Singh (Ferozepur).