Train movement likely to be affected today as farmers protest against Lakhimpur violence
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha has called for a Rail Roko Andolan across the country in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence that left eight people, including farmers, dead. Latest reports mention that rail traffic movement has been disrupted in some cities in Punjab and Haryana. Details here.
The farmers have decided to disrupt train movement from 10 am to 4 pm. Photo: Samyukta Kisan Morcha
Train movement is likely to be impacted today, on October 18 as Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a farmers’ body, has called for ‘Rail Roko Andolan’ (stop rail movement) across the country. The farmers are protesting against the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, where eight people, including four farmers, two BJP workers, their driver, and a journalist were killed on October 3.
The farmers have decided to disrupt train movement from 10 am to 4 pm.
“Violent acts took place at Lakhimpur cannot be forgotten. A 6 hour railway blockade to be observed today against ‘NO ACTION’ being taken against the accused. Farmers from various districts will be partaking,” the Twitter handle of the protesting organisation stated today.
As per the latest reports, as many as 30 locations are affected and eight trains have been affected in the Northern Railway Zone.
The farmers body Samyukta Kisan Morcha demands ‘immediate arrest’ of Lakhimpur Kheri violence accused Ashish Mishra’s father Ajay Mishra Teni who is the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs. They have also demanded the removal of Ajay Mishra from the ministry.
“Protests will only be intensified until justice is secured in the Lakhimpur Kheri Farmers Massacre,” Kisan Ekta Morcha added.
The ‘Rail Roko Andolan’ is expected to be peaceful and no damage shall be done to railway property, assured the farmer organisation. The protestors have blocked railway tracks at Bahadurgarh of Jhajjar district in Haryana. The protesting farmers in Devi Daspura village of Amritsar, Punjab are also participating in a sit-in protest on the railway track. As per media reports, protesters have also blocked railway tracks near Sahnewal and Rajpura following which the New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express was halted near Shambu station at around 10:07 am.
“It will be in different places in different districts. The people there all over the country know where we have to stop the train. The Indian government has not spoken to us yet,” Rakest Tikait, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Kisan Union, Uttar Pradesh, was quoted as saying in a media report.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Police will reportedly take action against those participating in the ‘Rail Roko Andolan’ in view of the Section 144 of the CrPC, which has been imposed in the Uttar Pradesh capital till November 8 in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow in view of the upcoming festivals, various entrance exams and farmers’ protests.
On October 5, the Lucknow police had imposed Section 144 of CrPC till November 8 “to maintain law and order and ensure adherence to COVID19 rules in view of the upcoming festivals, various entrance exams and farmers’ protests”.
The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has also been deployed at Haryana’ Sonipat railway station.
(This is a developing story; more details awaited)