Patna: During their violent protest against the Agnipath scheme on the third consecutive day on Friday in Bihar, the mob set ablaze more than nine express and passenger trains at various places leading to paralysing of train movement in the state.
The protestors since morning were agitating at the railway tracks at various places across the state. During their protest they torched trains two each in Samastipur and Lakhisarai, one each in Danapur, Bhojpur, Vaishali, Nalanda and Supaul. Apart from this they were indulged in arson at the railway tracks at different places.
According to East Central Railway ( ECR ) sources the violent protesters also torched passenger trains in Supaul, Danapur and Fatuha of Patna , Kulhadiya in Bhojpur and Hajipur of Vaishali. The mob also torched different railway stations and ransacked them.
Meanwhile ECR chief Public relation officer Virendra Kumar informed that plying of more than 100 trains were affected due to the agitation and nearly 124 trains have been stationed at different railway stations. The RPF, GRP along with local police were monitoring the security of the stationed trains carrying passengers.
He said that the passengers were also being provided with the food and water.
As a precautionary measure the Railway has cancelled 45 trains and diverted the route of 17 others apart from altering the timing of 9 trains under ECR, he in formed.
Kumar said that help line numbers have been released for the convenience of train passengers and added that special trains would be run to facilitate the journey of the stranded passengers.
Meanwhile, the divisional rail manager of Danapur rail division said that 5 intercity express and 55 passenger trains have been cancelled due to the agitation.
The protesters ransacked Danapur railway station and blocked the railway track. The police lobbed tear gas shells to dispersed the violent mob .
Meanwhile the agitation also affected movement of vehicles at different places on national highways and state highways across the state. The protesters also torched the toll plaza in Didarganj in the state capital Patna and in Sasaram of Rohtas district.
The mob also protested at Ashok Rajpath near Patna college in the state capital.
