Click to play videoNew Delhi: Angry over Railways' decision to withdraw stoppage of several trains at Khusrupur station in Bihar, protesters torched the third train since Monday morning.
Four bogies of Danapur-Rajgir passenger train were torched near Kushrupur station however, no injuries have been reported so far.
Earlier the protesters had ransacked and torched the Khusrupur station, attacked the Intercity Express and uprooted rail lines under Danapur division, about 32 kilometers from Patna.
The air-conditioned coach of Danapur-Darbhanga Intercity Express was set on fire at Fathua station near Patna by people who were angry with Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee who had ordered that the Shramjivi Express – a train that runs between Delhi and Patna – will now no longer halt at other stations near Patna.
However, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has denied that she ordered the cancellation of stoppages.
Speaking to CNN-IBN, she said, “No decision was taken by me on stoppages. I don’t know why this rumour has been circulated. I will address the issues of Bihar.”
“I will haul up Railway officials in Patna for not projecting the correct information,” she added.
Meanwhile, speaking to CNN-IBN minutes after the incident, PRO of Railways, AK Chandra said, “All passengers are safe. Fire has been put out and the AC coach is partially burnt.”
Deputy Superintendent of Government Railway Police (Patna East) Rajendra Singh was quoted by PTI as saying that hundreds of people from nearby villages stormed the Khusrupur railway station on Monday morning, ransacked the station and burnt it down.
They were protesting the East Central Railway's announcement in newspapers pertaining to withdrawal of stoppage of several express trains, including Rajgir-New Delhi Shramajivi Express and Kosi Express, at Khusrupur.
Fire tenders fought for hours to douse the flames, Singh said.
The mob also destroyed several electronic and other railway operation equipment and signal system, besides the ticket-booking counter, Singh added.
Reinforcements have been sent to Khusrupur station to control the situation. Senior railway and police officials have also reached the spot and patrolling was intensified as tension ran high in the area.
Rail traffic has been disrupted in the region and atleast 10 trains have been halted.
According to initial reports, thousands of passengers are stranded in and around the region. Protestors are also reportedly sitting on railway tracks and not allowing any train to pass by.
"We were attacked by many people. We locked ourselves in the pantry but they broke the door and barged inside. We were beaten up by the attackers." |
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