Train services under Sealdah section of railways disrupted due to protest
Train services under Sealdah section of railways disrupted due to protest
protest about Agneepath Scheme Fire broke out in several districts of West Bengal on Friday. There was no report of any violence, but rail and vehicular movement remained disrupted at various places in the state.
The protest started around 7.45 am and continued till 9.30 am. The youths waving the national flag demanded withdrawal of recruitment under the Agneepath scheme. Train services under Sealdah section of railways remained disrupted due to the protests.
After the railway blockade, youths gathered near the residence of Union Minister of State for Shipping, Ports and Waterways and Bongaon Bharatiya Janata Party MP Shantanu Thakur. Police stopped the protesters from going to the residence of the BJP MP.
At around 8 am, another group of youths blocked Howrah, disrupting traffic on the bridge connecting the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. After some time the protest was lifted. Protests were held in Purulia and the south western part of the state and Siliguri in north Bengal, where youths blocked roads demanding the withdrawal of the Agneepath scheme.
On Thursday evening, protests were held at Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district over the same issue, when youths took to the streets. Trinamool Congress has demanded withdrawal of recruitment under Agneepath scheme.
Several trains originating from Howrah station were canceled and short terminated. The canceled trains include Kolkata-Gorakhpur Express and Raxaul-Mithila Express. “Kamakhya-Delhi Brahmaputra Express (journey commencing on 16.06.2022) will terminate at Malda Town. Also 03023 Howrah-Patna Exam Special will leave Howrah at 20:00. 13:50 hrs instead of the scheduled departure time on 17.06.2022,” said a press conference of Eastern Railway, crediting the “student agitation going on at various stations of East Central Railway”. Hundreds of people were stranded at Howrah station. Those stranded at the station also include students who have come to Kolkata to take the examination.