Dankuni (West Bengal), Oct 30 (IANS) A group of locals held up the Howrah-bound Rajdhani Express for two hours in this West Bengal station after a suburban train was delayed by 14 minutes.
Complaining that the suburban train’s departure was delayed to keep the tracks free for the 2302 Down Rajdhani Express, the local residents squatted on the tracks from 9.45 a.m., refusing to heed to the police’s request for withdrawing the wildcat agitation.

“Some locals got agitated over the regular delays in the suburban trains. They claimed that it was to give the right of way to the Rajdhani. So they blocked it,” Additional Director General of Police Dilip Mitra told IANS.

“This has been going on for a long time. Every day, passenger trains are delayed to give precedence to the Rajdhani. We also demand a flyover at Dankuni,” said an agitator.

Apart from the Rajdhani, various other mail and express trains were also stranded midway due to the agitation that was finally lifted at 11.45 a.m., after the police authorities promised to relay the passengers’ grievances to senior railway officials.

The train was slated to reach Howrah at 9.55 a.m.

The incident comes close on the heels of a Maoist-backed organisation holding up the Delhi-bound Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express at Banstala halt in Midnapore district, demanding the withdrawal of the joint security forces fighting the rebels and release of some tribal leaders.