Sikhs in Punjab on warpath, block tracks
NDTV Correspondent
Wednesday, June 25, 2008, (Chandigarh)
Demanding arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh in the wake of the Mumbai firing incident, nearly 150 Sikh protestors have gathered near Amritsar railway station and stopped several trains.
At least five trains are held up by protestors near Amritsar and Abohar stations, which include: Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi and Sach Khand express, Abha Tufan, Abohar-Haridwar express and intercity between Abohar and Ganganagar.
The Sikh protesters squatted on the track at several places, including Amritsar, Sirhind, Malout, Abohar, Sangrur and Rajpura in Punjab to protest against the killing of a community member allegedly by a bodyguard of the Dera chief in Mumbai last week.
On Tuesday, Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal asked for a judicial probe into the firing by the private security guards of controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief in a Mumbai mall.
In another resolution, the party demanded that the Dera chief should not be allowed to take his gunmen inside the court either.
The 'rail roko' call given by Damdami Taksal, SAD (Amritsar) and certain radical Sikh organisations asked the protesters to remain peaceful.
"At least eight super-fast and five passenger trains have been cancelled for the day. Several other trains were being terminated short of their destination in order to ensure the safety of the passengers and rail property," Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala H K Jaggi said.
Punjab Police sources said here that though the movement of trains had come to a halt, the situation was peaceful.
Sikh protestors also blocked the Amrtitsar - Delhi highway. On Tuesday, Punjab's ruling Shiromani Akali Dal asked for a judicial probe into the Mumbai firing incident.
In another resolution, the party demanded that the Dera chief not be allowed to take his gunmen inside court.
Trains cancelled:
The 2204 Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express
The 2014 Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express
The 2716 Amritsar-Nanded Sachkhand Express
The 2460 Amritsar-New Delhi Intercity Express
The 5210 Amritsar-Saharsa Jan Sewa Express
The 2054 Amritsar-Haridwar Jan Shatabdi Express
The 5708 Amritsar-Katihar Express
2SUN-Nangal Dam-Sharanpur passenger.
2ULN/3ULN Ambala-Ludihana-Ambala passenger.
Trains short terminated:
The 2903 Amritsar-Mumbai Central Golden Temple Mail short terminated at Beas.
The 4631 Dehradun- Amritsar Express short terminated at Dhillwan.
The 8237 Bilaspur- Amritsar short terminated at Jalandhar Cantt.
The 3049 Howrah-Amritsar Express short terminated at Ambala.
1SUN/2SUN Nagal-Dam-Saharanpur passenger short terminated at Ambala.
334 Amritsar-Ambalal passenger short terminated at Sirhind.
Trains diverted:
The 8101 Tata Nagar-Jammu Tawi Muri Express has been diverted to run via Jalandhar-Patiala stations. (With PTI inputs)