Mumbai: Suburban train services resumed in Mumbai after motormen's union called off their agitation following assurance from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) that they will be provided protection.
Motormen refused to drive trains after one of them sustained minor injuries in an attack in an incident at Thane. Following that the motormen union called for suspension of all operations unless they were given proper police protection.
Suburban train services were today disrupted on the Central Line after scores of commuters blocked the rail tracks to protest the slow running and cancellation of some trains during the morning rush hour.
Hundreds of commuters blocked the railway track at Diva station between Thane and Kalyan. The protesters also set on fire at least three vehicles, including a police jeep, Thane Municipal Corporation's Disaster Control Officer Santosh Kadam said.
The angry commuters allegedly pelted some local trains with stones at Diva and also burnt tyres on the streets to vent their anger against the erratic running of trains.
The agitation started after schedule of local trains got disrupted when a pantograph broke at Thakurli in the morning. This led to some suburban trains getting stranded.
The worst affected were the Thane, Kalyan and Dombvili stations where a large number of commuters board the locals to reach their offices.
At least one motorman of a local train was injured in stone-throwing, the disaster control room office said. Police had to resort to lathicharge to quell the irate mob.
Following the agitation, lakhs of commuters were stranded at the stations and reached their offices late.
