Rail blockade to disrupt train movement in Telangana
February 28th, 2011 - 7:12 pm ICT by IANS
Hyderabad, Feb 28 (IANS) Train traffic between Hyderabad and other parts of India is likely to be thrown out gear Tuesday with groups demanding separate statehood to Telangana calling for a ‘rail roko’, or rail blockade, across the region.The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for separate state, has asked people to stop the trains by squatting on the tracks in the entire region, comprising 10 districts including Hyderabad.
The JAC, which includes the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and other regional groups, is demanding that the central government introduce in parliament a bill for formation of a separate Telangana state.
Telangana leaders of the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have also declared their support for the rail blockade.
JAC convenor M. Kodandaram said the daylong programme would begin at 6 a.m. Tuesday and bring the movement of trains to a complete halt. He appealed to people to make the programme a success by squatting on the tracks in every village.
South Central Railway (SCR), which has its headquarters here, operates many trains through Telangana, connecting cities like Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi.
Both police and railway authorities have warned the protesters that strict action would be taken against them if they resort to attacks on passengers or railway property. The police will patrol important trunk routes and beef up security at railway stations to prevent any untoward incidents.
Director General of Police Aravinda Rao said police were making all arrangements for protection of people and property. The district police, the Government Railway Police Force, and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) are jointly coordinating the arrangements.
He said information and past experience show that there is likelihood of sabotage to railway tracks with fish plates being removed and signal equipment being tampered with or destroyed. These can result in serious accidents, causing great loss to human life.
“Cases will be booked under the Railway Act, 1989, in addition to IPC sections of Law. Punishments under the Railway Act will be more rigorous for offences like stoppage of trains, squatting on railway track etc,” the police chief said in a statement.
- 23 trains cancelled ahead of Telangana rail blockade (Lead) - Feb 28, 2011
- Railways, police warn Telangana protesters against blockade - Oct 10, 2011
- Telangana supporters disrupt train traffic (Second Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Telangana supporters paralyse rail traffic for separate state (Third Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Blockade brings Telangana train traffic to standstill - Jul 14, 2011
- Telangana comes to a halt as all train services cancelled - Sep 24, 2011
- Hyderabad, other parts of Telangana hit by rail blockade (Lead) - Mar 01, 2011
- Blockade brings Telangana train traffic to a standstill (Lead) - Jul 14, 2011
- JAC postpones rail blockade in Telangana by three days - Oct 07, 2011
- Telangana rail blockade to hit movement of trains - Jul 13, 2011
- Telangana shutdown called for Monday - Oct 15, 2011
- Telangana braces for two-day rail blockade (Lead) - Jul 07, 2011
- MP sent to jail, 3,000 held for rail blockade in Telangana - Oct 16, 2011
- Telangana MP sent to jail - Oct 16, 2011
- Protesters demanding Telangana block rail traffic - Mar 01, 2011
Tags: action committee, aravinda, blockade, convenor, district police, fish plates, jac, rail roko, railway authorities, railway police, railway stations, regional groups, rpf, signal equipment, south central railway, strict action, telangana, train movement, train traffic, trunk routes