Farmers block rail tracks, make plazas toll-free for hours in Punjab

Tribune Reporters

Patiala, February 15

Farmers today blocked railway tracks, leaving passengers stranded. Farmer unions also made plazas toll-free for over three hours in many parts of the state, leading to financial loss to the National Highways Authority of India.

The crucial rail links passing through Rajpura and Sirhind towards Jammu and towards Ferozepur via Patiala were blocked by the agitating farmers for over four hours, leading to cancellation and diversion of many trains.

Some trains on the Delhi-Amritsar route were diverted, while others ran late on Thursday after farmers blocked rail tracks at many places in Punjab.

FOUR TRAINS CANCELLED, SEVERAL AFFECTED

• Four trains had to be cancelled, seven trains were short-terminated, five trains were short-originated, besides 12 were diverted. 

Trains cancelled

• The trains which had to be cancelled included Ferozepur Cantt-Fazilka DMU (04627), Fazilka-Ferozepur Cantt DMU (06988), Lohian Khas- Phillaur DMU (Up & down). 

Short-terminated

• Ludhiana-Chheharta MEMU Express, Ludhiana-Ferozepur Cantt Express Special, Bathinda-Fazilka Express Special,  Amrtisar-Katihar Amrapali Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express, New Delhi-Amritsar Shan-e-Punjab and Jalandhar- New Delhi Intercity Special. 

Short-originated

• Five trains Chheharta- Ludhiana MEMU Express, Ferozepur Cantt- Ludhiana Express Special, Fazilka-Bathinda Express Special, Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Amritsar-New Delhi Shan-e-Punjab 

Diverted

• Amritsar-Ajmer Express, Amritsar-Katihar Amrapali Express, Pathankot-Delhi Express, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Gazipur city Weekly Express, Jammu Tawi-Tirupati Hamsafar Express, Kolkata- Amritsar Akal Takht Express, Amritsar-New Jalpaiguri Karambhumi Express, Jammu Tawi-Durg Superfast, Amritsar-Hazur Sahib Nanded Sachkhand Express, Durg-Udhampur Superfast Express and Mumbai-Amritsar Express (11057).

Rescheduled

• Amritsar-Mumbai Express, Hazur Sahib Nanded-Amritsar Express, Ferozepur Cantt-Ludhiana DMU, Ludhiana-Ferozepur Cantt DMU and Ferozepur Cantt- Fazilka DMU

The Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and the BKU (Dakaunda) had given a call for a four-hour ‘rail roko’ protest at several places in Punjab. Farmers began their stir around 12 noon which was lifted around 4 pm.

Farmer unions also staged dharnas at several toll plazas and forced the authorities to let commuters go without paying any fee. On the call of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), farmers also staged demonstrations at several toll plazas to protest the use of tear gas shells and rubber bullets by the Haryana Police at Shambhu and Khanauri barriers.

In Patiala, toll plazas on the Chandigarh road and Sangrur road were closed. To show solidarity with the protesting farmers, the SKM on Wednesday announced that it would not allow toll collection at plazas for three hours from 11 am to 2 pm on Thursday.

Ropar: Protesting against the alleged use of rubber bullets on farmers by the Haryana Government on the Punjab-Haryana border, members of SKM staged a protest at Solakhian toll plaza here.

A large number of farmers started reaching the plaza in the morning and at 11 am, they forced plaza employees not to charge from the commuters. Following this, all vehicles were free to pass through without paying toll fee till 2.15 pm when the farmers lifted their dharna.

An official at the toll plaza said they had suffered a loss of nearly Rs 4 lakh.

Jalandhar: On the call given by the BKU (Ugrahan), about 150 farmers lodged a protest at the Chak Bahmanian toll plaza between Shahkot in Jalandhar and Moga for three hours on Thursday.

The farmers did not block the highway but took control of the toll booths and made the passage free for commuters between 11 am and 2 pm. Gurcharan Singh, president, BKU (Ugrahan), Jalandhar, led the protest and had support of farmers from other unions of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha.

Meanwhile, the farmers also blocked the rail traffic at Malsian in Shahkot. More than 100 farmers block the rail passage seeking action against the Haryana Police for inflicting injuries on farmers at Punjab border while they were moving on as a part of ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest.

Leaders, including Sukhwinder Singh of the BKU (Rajewal), Jaswant Singh of the BKU (Qadian) and Sarwan S Pandori of the Kirti Kisan Union led the protest.

Ludhiana: Various farmer unions under the banner of the SKM today laid a siege to the Ladhowal toll barrier in Ludhiana. Protesters made the staff at toll barrier to leave their counters and allowed the vehicles to pass without paying any toll tax.

Farmers were carrying flags and raised slogans against the Centre. They condemned the BJP government for not fulfilling the demands of farmers.

Amrik Singh, district president, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), said the purpose of holding protest and making the barrier toll-free for commuters was to exert influence on the government so that all demands of farmers could be fulfilled. Farmers were heading to Delhi to hold a peaceful protest but the Haryana Government created hurdles on the highway. Even tear gas shells and rubber pellets were fired at farmers on the Shambu border. Many farmers suffered serious injuries in the agitation.

Kirti Kisan Union leader Santokh Singh said the Haryana Government was using drone to attack the protesting farmers and they would not tolerate it.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.

#Rajpura