Members of various farmer organisations block a railway track in Ghaziabad during a four-hour rail roko demonstration across the country, called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM).
At least seven workers of Pappu Yadav's Jan Adhikar Party were arrested in Patna on Thursday for blocking the movement of a passenger train at Patna Junction as part of farmers' Rail Roko agitation. Police said that tight security arrangements are in place at all the city railway stations in view of the station. News agency ANI reported that cops have been deployed at all the railway stations in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and other states to foil the bid to halt trains. Notably, farmers have called for a nationwide 'rail roko' agitation for 4 hours on Thursday as they continue their protest against the central farm laws. According to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, which is spearheading the farmers' protest, trains will be halted across the country between 12 noon and 4 pm. "Appeal to everyone for a peaceful protest in nationwide 'Rail Roko' program on February 18 from 12 noon to 4 pm," the SKM said.
Rail Roko: Highlights
Rail Roko LIVE Updates: Several trains cancelled, diverted
In view of the ‘rail roko’ agitation, Indian Railways will short-terminate several passenger trains. The national transporter has also canceled several trains and diverted many. CHECK FULL LIST HERE
'Rail roko' agitation passed off without any untoward incident. There was negligible or minimal impact on running of the trains across the country. Train movement in all zones is normal now. Few trains were stopped in some areas but now train operation is normal: Indian Railways
Modinagar (UP): Members of Bharatiya Kisan Union shower flower petals on police personnel and offer sweets to them during farmers' 'Rail Roko' protest. Police appeals to BKU members to end their agitation.
Uttar Pradesh: Members of Bharatiya Kisan Union stage 'Rail Roko' at Hapur during their nationwide protest against agriculture laws
Haryana: Farmers block railway tracks in Ambala
Haryana: Farmers block railway tracks in Palwal
J&K: Farmers demonstrate at railway track in Jammu's Channi Himat area
Rail Roko: Security deployed at Ghaziabad Junction
Security deployed at Ghaziabad Junction in view of the 4-hour long nationwide 'rail roko' call by farmers' today.
Rail Roko LIVE: 20 additional RPSF companies deployed
The national transporter has deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, with focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the wake of the "rail roko" called on Thursday by farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
Rail Roko in Patna: Seven workers of Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) staged a 'rail roko' agitation at Patna Junction railway station, against Farm Laws. Seven workers have been arrested so far for blocking passenger train.
Rail Roko: Tight security at Delhi stations
Police personnel are deployed at Nangloi railway station as farmers have called a 4-hour long nationwide 'rail roko' agitation today.
Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been protesting at Delhi's borders for over two months demanding rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. Farmers are opposing the laws, terming them against their interest as it will dismantle the mandi system and the MSP structure. Besides, they believe that the laws will give power to corporates over their lands.
However, the three laws -- enacted in September 2020, have been projected by the Central government as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen and allow farmers to sell anywhere in the country. The government has repeatedly assured the farmers that these three laws will not do away with MSP and mandis.
Railways deployed 20 additional RPSF companies
The railways has deployed 20 additional companies of the RPSF across the country, with focus on Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, in the wake of the "rail roko" called on Thursday by farmer groups protesting against the Centre's new agri laws.
Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar on Wednesday said, "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place."
"We will gather intelligence. States such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, and some other areas will be our focus. We have deployed 20 companies of the Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) in these areas," he said.
Sources in the northern railways said they are expecting that 'rail roko' agitations will be concentrated in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
"No decision has yet been taken on train movement in the backdrop of the rail blockade. Once we get a better picture of the status of the protests and have identified sensitive spots, we will put in place a plan of action. We have around 80 trains which run through potentially sensitive areas and most of them would have passed through them before 12 pm," an official said.
The announcement of the rail roko movement came amid the ongoing protests against the laws at Delhi's borders by farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, and 'mahapanchayats' that are being organised in these states to garner support for the movement.
