'Rail Roko' agitation: 293 trains hit, SKM says protest was peaceful

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) said Monday's Rail Roko stir taken up by thousands of farmers all over India was carried out peacefully.

SKM claimed that more than 290 trains were reportedly affected and more than 40 trains cancelled. In Uttar Pradesh, there were many detentions of farmer leaders in numerous places by the UP Police. In Madhya Pradesh, the Police arrested protestors in several places like Guna, Gwalior, Rewa, Bamaniya (in Jhabua) and other places.

Farmers squatted on the rail tracks near Bamnia railway station in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Monday as part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's 'Rail Roko' stir over Lakhimpur Kheri violence but were dispersed by the police.

Rakesh Tikait, alleging that a huge conspiracy is behing the Singhu border murder, said that the farmers will not bow down to the government. "We want the farm laws to be withdrawn."

Rakesh Tikait, speaking to INDIA TV at Ghazipur border said that the Singhu border murder was under the supervision of the police and administrations. 
"why were the authorites unaware of the murder? its because they were involved too," the BKU leader alleged. 

There was an immediate arrest in the Singhu Border Murder case. Farmers have nothing to do in the murder case.: Tikait

The Lakhimpur incident is not a political issue, it has nothing to do with elections. The law isn't taking its course in this case. Ajay Mishra should be arrested: Tikait

"The government belongs to companies," Rakesh Tikait alleges. "We havent used our force in the farmers' movement yet. Our course will be completed in 3 years," he further added. 

 "Purpose of the farmers' movement has not been fulfilled yet. The government is stubborn" says the BKU chief

Backing the protesting farmers on their demand for the dismissal of Union minister Ajay Mishra, Meghalaya governor Satya Pal Malik said he should have resigned immediately after the Lakhimpur Kheri violence and does not deserve the post in any case. Malik also said the BJP will not return to power unless the government listens to the farmers agitating over the agri laws, and asserted that he is ready to mediate if the Centre agrees to give legal guarantee on minimum support price (MSP) for crops. 

As the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) is staging a nationwide "Rail Roko" protest to demand the dismissal and arrest of Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra, Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said that the government has not spoken to them in this regard yet.

Train services were on Monday affected in the East Coast Railway division of Odisha for around 30 minutes to one hour owing to the 'rail roko' agitation by farmers, demanding the dismissal and arrest of Union minister Ajay Mishra for his alleged involvement in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence earlier this month.

In Rajasthan, farmers held a protest on the tracks in Hanumangarh district and at the entrance of Jaipur Junction station and raised slogans against the Central and the Uttar Pradesh governments.

Agitations were held at Punjab's Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Moga, Patiala and Ferozepur, and Haryana's Charkhi Dadri, Sonipat, Kurukshetra, Jind, Karnal and Hisar. In Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, Bharatiya Kisan Union workers halting the Amritsar-Delhi and the Jalandhar Express trains by staging a dharna on rail tracks.

In the North Western Railway (NWR) zone, rail traffic was affected in some sections in Rajasthan and Haryana with 18 trains cancelled, 10 partially cancelled and one diverted due to the protest. 

Punjab: Passengers face problems as train movement is affected due to farmers union call for 'Rail Roko' agitation 

Protesters block railway tracks at Ludhiana railway station 

Hyderabad: Police personnel attempt to stop members of various farmer unions during a protest as part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's 'rail roko' agitation demanding the dismissal and arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra in connection with the Oct. 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, at Kachiguda Railway Station in Hyderabad

Amritsar: Farmers block railway tracks as part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's 'rail roko' protest demanding the dismissal and arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra in connection with the Oct. 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, at Devi Dass Pura in Amritsar district

Patiala: Members of various farmers organizations black railway tracks during a protest against central government

Bahadurgarh: Farmers block railway tracks as part of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha's 'rail roko' protest demanding the dismissal and arrest of Union Minister Ajay Mishra in connection with the Oct. 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri, in Bahadurgarh

Route of Ahmedabad-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Special train has been changed. The train which departed from Ahmedabad on Saturday will run on the changed route via Rewari-Delhi-Pathankot to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra

The Bathinda-Rewari Special train and the Sirsa-Ludhiana Special train will remain cancelled today

An NWR spokesperson has said rail traffic on Bhiwani-Rewari, Sirsa-Rewari, Loharu-Hisar, Suratgarh-Bathinda, Sirsa-Bathinda, Hanumangarh-Bathinda, Rohtak-Bhiwani, Rewari-Sadulpur, Hisar-Bathinda, Hanumangarh-Sadulpur and Sri Ganganagar-Rewari sections were affected due to the agitation.

New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express was halted near Shambu station as protesters blocked railway tracks near Sahnewal and Rajpura

Train movement is not obstructed anywhere, we have deployed additional forces at several railway stations. Officers have been deployed at some relevant and sensitive locations as well, who are in talks with the farm unions and leaders: UP Law & Order ADG Prashant Kumar

About 130 locations were affected due to agitation in Punjab and Haryana, Firozpur and Ambala divisions. Nearly 50 trains are affected as of now, says Northern Railway

Video shows protesters blocking train movement in Uttar Pradesh's Modinagar. The farmers' union has called for 'rail roko' agitation today over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, demanding the arrest and removal of MoS Ajay Sharma. 

Protesters block railway tracks in Haryana's Sonipat

Passengers of a Chandigarh bound train say they are facing trouble as the train was terminated at Dappar station in Dera Bassi tehsil of SAS Nagar district, due to the ongoing 'Rail roko' agitation by farmers' union

Government Railway Police is patrolling all railway stations and tracks. Till now, there are no reports of disturbance at any railway tracks or cancellation of trains. We're working in close coordination with GRP of neighbouring states: Harendra Singh, DCP Railways on 'Rail Roko'

Following the farmer unions' call for 'Rail Roko' protests on Monday, security has been tightened at Modinagar Railway Station in Uttar Pradesh.

Aditya Prajapati, SDM, Modi Nagar said, "In view of the rail roko movement, police force of four police stations in Ghaziabad district has been deployed at Modinagar railway station. Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) has also been set up. Two passenger trains have passed from here since 10 am, while 8-10 trains have to pass till 4 pm. The administration has appealed to the farmers that the passengers should not face trouble because of the agitation."

Four rail sections have been blocked by protesters

As of now, 30 locations are affected and 8 trains regulated in Northern Railway Zone: CPRO, Northern Railway on 'Rail roko' agitation

Four sections of the Ferozepur division have been blocked by the protesters. The Ferozepur-Fazilka section in Ferozepur city and the Ferozepur-Ludhiana section at Ajitwal in Moga are affected.

Protestors block railway tracks at Bahadurgarh in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident

Rapid Action Force deployed at Sonipat Railway Station, in the wake of 'Rail roko' call by Samyukta Kisan Morcha in protest against Lakhimpur Kheri incident

Northern Railway so far not affected due to the rail roko agitation, police and security forces have been deployed. The farmers have yet not gathered at the railway tracks due to rains in some regions.

Commenting on today's rail roko agitation, Rakesh Tikait said, "This agitation is for the arrest of Ajay Mishra Teni in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. This agitation will be pan-India, but we'll stop it if the police arrest Mishra. We want Teni's resignation and arrest."

"The Lakhimpur Kheri incident is related to us and hence we are protesting against it. The arrest and removal of Ajay Mishra is a demand which is added to our demand of reversal of three farm laws," Tikait said. 

Farm law protestors sit on the railway track at Devi Dasspura village in Amritsar following the farmer's union call for 'Rail Roko Andolan' today

Police to take action against those who will participate in the 'Rail Roko Andolan' called by farmers organization. 144 CrPC is also imposed in the district and will impose NSA if anyone tries to disrupt normalcy: Lucknow Police

The SKM said during the 'rail roko' protest, all train traffic will be stopped for six hours from 10 am till 4 pm on Monday.

Announcing the rail roko agitation, the SKM yesterday had said, "To press for its demand for MoS Home Ajay Mishra's dismissal and arrest, so that justice can be secured in the Lakhimpur Kheri massacre, Samyukt Kisan Morcha has announced a nation-wide Rail Roko program tomorrow. SKM put out a call to its constituents to stop rail traffic for six hours on October 18, between 10 am and 4 pm. The SKM asks for this action to be taken up peacefully, without any destruction and damage of any kind to any railway property."