Passengers fret as Shatabdi among 24 trains cancelled, no relief in sight
50 trains of Ambala division, including those having halt at Chandigarh, cancelled or terminated
From page 01 CHANDIGARH: The Jat quota agitation in Haryana, which resulted in army deployment and curfew in some areas, led to cancellation or abrupt termination of around 50 trains of the key Ambala railway division, including two Shatabdi Express trains and 22 others having a halt at Chandigarh, on Friday. In all, over 140 trains in the state were either cancelled or terminated ahead of their destination. Road transport was overburdened as a result. Till further orders, now, these trains would remain cancelled as there is no clear sign of the protest and track blockades being removed.
About buses, Haryana Roadways officials refused to confirm any cancellations but there were instances wherein passengers informed of routes being cancelled.
Divisional railway manager (DRM) for Ambala, Dinesh Kumar, said, “All the trains on the Ambala-Panipat-Delhi routes are being blocked; we are helpless even as a number of stranded passengers are calling up to complain. We are worried but the same situation will prevail till the protestors remain on the tracks.” On the road traffic, he said, “As per our knowledge, the highways are all open, but link roads are closed.”
Meanwhile, the InterState Bus Ter minus (ISBT) in Chandigarh’s Sector 17 witnessed hug e r ush late evening on Friday, and there was panic since the bus conductors and drivers said they would not take responsibility if the buses were stopped midway.
One of the passengers, Shifali Chhabra, said, “I have to reach Gurgaon by 8.30 Saturday morning as I have a job interview at 9.30am sharp; but now the bus drivers are saying the buses may be stopped midway. I am going anyway by bus, taking a risk during late hours.”
Besides the trains cancelled or short-terminated, routes of at least four in the Ambala division were diverted.
Those cancelled included the Amritsar-New Delhi Intercity Express (12490), Amritsar-New Delhi (12030), Amritsar-Jaynagar (Bangalore) (14674), Vaishno Devi ( Katra)- Delhi ( 14034), Jammu Tawi to Ajmer (12414), Jammu Tawi- Pune ( 11078), Jammu Tawi-New Delhi (12426), Vaishno Devi (Katra)-New Delhi (12446), Vaishno Devi (Katra)Chennai (16032), Vaishno Devi (Katra)-New Delhi (22462) and Hoshiarpur-Delhi (14012). Others that got cancelled included the Chandigarh-Indore, the Kalka-Howrah Mail, Chandigarh-Yeswantpur, Chandigarh-Madgaon Express, Ambala-Andaura Himachal Express, Chandigarh-Jaipur Intercity, Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi and the Unchahar Express.
The trains that got diverted were Jammu Tawi- Indore ( 12920), Jammu Tawi- Durg (18216), Vaishno Devi (Katra)Mumbai (12472) and Amritsar-Ajmer (19614).
The trains cancelled that specifically have a halt at Chandigarh railway station were the Himalayan Queen, Chandigarh-Delhi Shatabdi Express, Chandigarh-Indore, and Kalka Shatabdi Express — were cancelled; and the Shatabdi from Delhi for Chandigarh that started at 12.30pm was reportedly halted at Panipat and returned to its origin station.
Ravinder Singh, who was in a long queue at the Sector-17 bus stand, said, “I have a flight to catch for Australia from Delhi at 6am on Saturday, and have to enter the airport by 3am! But the rush is increasing and the bus conductors are saying they won’t be responsible if the bus is stopped anywhere around Panipat area or even before that.”
However, ticket-sellers at the bus stand said no bus had been stopped so far on the GT Road from Chandigarh to Delhi. They added that all the link roads are blocked.
3,300 paramilitary men rushed to Haryana; Rajnath assures all help
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Friday rushed 3,300 paramilitary personnel to Haryana and assured chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar of all possible help to maintain law and order as the Jat stir for quota turned violent in the state.
As many as 3,300 paramilitary personnel have been sent to assist the state government in maintaining law and order as there have been several incidents of violence in Haryana following the Jat agitation demanding quota, a home ministry official said.
Concerned over the volatile situation, home minister Rajnath Singh called up the Haryana chief minister, who briefed him about the prevailing situation in the state. The home minister also assured the chief minister all possible help to the state government in controlling the situation, the official said.
Singh later appealed to the people to maintain peace and order and stressed on the need for discussion and dialogue.
He also condoled the death of a protestor today.
“I appeal to my brothers and sisters of Haryana to maintain peace and order in the state,” Singh said in a tweet. “My deepest condolence to the family of the individual who got killed in Haryana violence today,” he said in another tweet.
“The incident of violence in certain parts of Haryana is very unfortunate. In a democracy solution to any problem lies in discussion &dialogue,” he added.
Army was called in today in nine districts of Haryana and curfew was imposed in two districts along with shoot-at-sight orders after one person died and 25 were injured during the Jat stir for quota which turned violent with mobs resorting to widespread arson. Rampaging mobs held some policemen captive besides setting ablaze the house of state’s Finance Minister Abhimanyu and several government and private properties in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hansi and several other parts of the state.
The agitationists seeking reservation under Economically Backward Classes, also targeted police and private vehicles, buildings housing offices, including two Toll Plazas at Hansi in Hissar district and near Rohtak, both located on the Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka National Highway.
BSF personnel returned fire in self defence: DGP
CHANDIGARH: Haryana director general of police (DGP) Yash Pal Singal on Friday said the BSF personnel returned fire in self defence after an unidentified man in Rohtak mob fired on them from a country-made pistol, injuring a jawan.
Singal said at a briefing here that protesters even held an injured BSF jawan captive. The DGP said the Haryana Police did not open fire on anyone during the incident.
He said that in a separate incident, the mob attacked a deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and cops at Mahrishi Dayanand University gate in Rohtak and later took them hostage. The mob also went to circuit house and damaged the car of a DIG and police gypsy, besides setting on fire a police vehicle (Tavera). He said besides calling the army, the state government has requisitioned 20 more companies of paramilitary forces.
Jat reservation stir reaches P’kula; tight security in place
PROTESTERS SUBMIT MEMORANDUM TO DISTRICT REVENUE OFFICER; SAY SITUATION COULD TURN WORSE IF RESERVATION IS NOT GRANTED
PANCHKULA: The leaders of the Jat community held a protest march from Jat Bhavan in Sector 6 to deputy commissioner’s office here on Friday.
SANT ARORA/HTMembers of theJat community protesting in Sector 6, Panchkula on Friday.
Cutting across party lines, Jat leaders — Satish Kadiyan, Azaad Malik, Dilbag Singh Nain and Rakesh Gill — led the march and walked up to Majri Chowk.
Heavy police contingent remained present in riot-control gear who prevented them from blocking the Panchkula-Shimla highway. The protesters then went to deputy commissioner’s office and sloganeered for the Jat reservation quota.
Notably, when someone raised slogans against state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, party supporters from the community objected to it.
Later, they presented a memorandum to district revenue officer. The memorandum was addressed to chief minister Manohal Lal Khattar. Kadiyan told that if reservation was not granted the situation could turn worse.
BJP TO PROTEST TODAY
Bharatiya Janata Par ty ( BJP) would protest hold a protest against the Jawaharlal Nehru University row here on Saturday.
The protest would be held at Sector 7/8 roundabout. District president Deepak Sharma said that BJP was a nationalist party and they condemn the Rahul Gandhi’s statement on JNU campus.
District media in-charge-Vikas Paul said that for the protest, workers from all the 7 divisions of the district would “give a strong message to antinationalist” forces.