SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, June 17: The railway authorities cancelled five trains as anti-Agnipath recruitment scheme agitators squatted on the railway track at Dhanbad railway station under East Central Railway (ECR) zone today.
As per the pre-announced programme, hundreds of youth entered Dhanbad railway station from the south side of the station and squatted on the track at around 11 am. Senior RFP and GRP officials tried to clear the track but to no avail. However, after one hour, the agitators cleared the track at the station.
Senior PRO Dhanbad rail division PK Mishra said that due to agitation at different railway stations Up and Down 13331 Dhanbad Patna Express and 13332 Patna- Dhanbad, 68020 Dhanbad –Jhargram MEMU, 53324 Dhanbad –Sindri UP and Down passenger train have been cancelled.
Besides it, the movement of some trains was also affected by the agitation. The railway official said 13305 Dhanbad- Dehri-on-Sone is detained at Koderma railway station. 13553 Asansol- Varanasi MEMU is stopped at Gomoh railway station, 03359 Barkakana- Varanasi at Barwadih railway station and 03341 Barkakana- Dehri-On-Sone at Ray railway station.
Dhanbad railway division has also issued helpline numbers 9334837103 (Koderma), 9771426825, and 03262220080 (Dhanbad) for information about detained trains.
In wake of the agitation, Dhanbad district police and Dhanbad divisional RPF had made elaborate arrangements in the morning to stop the agitators from damaging the property and disturbing the movement of the train at a railway station. While Rural Superintendent of Police Reeshma Ramesan was monitoring the situation herself, RPF Deputy Superintendent of police Sanjiv Besra was camping at the main gate of Dhanbad railway station. The main gate of Dhanbad Rail Division headquarters was also closed in wake of the demonstration.
The agitators after holding a demonstration at different places returned. But rather than the front gate, they went south side of the station and entered from there. Besides the township and railway station, the agitators also demonstrated in Jharia, Jorapokhar and other areas of the district in protest against the Agnipath Recruitment Scheme.
