By Express News Service
The government’s new recruitment scheme Agnipath which led to protests in different parts of the country has spread to Hyderabad now, after Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with protestors setting at least seven trains on fire at Secunderabad railway station and ransacking the entire railway station premises, on Friday morning.
Additional forces from Railway Protection Force and Telangana police were rushed to the railway station, however only after a major damaged had already happened. Fortunately, no passengers were handed in the incident.
The protestors who barged into the station first in small groups of 20s surprised the railway personnel and the security personnel at the railway station.
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Even before they could react to the situation, a large mob of charged into the railway station from platform no 1 and went on a rampage.
They first attacked Danapur express which was just arriving on platform no 1. Sensing danger alert loco pilots, moved the train in the reverse direction. An enraged mob went on and damaged stalls on platforms.
Trains on other platforms were set on fire and damaged. Hundreds of passengers who were at the station for their journey were caught in the protests. Though they tried to leave the station, thick smoke which engulfed the whole area, blocked their way out.
On the other hand, protests continued in Bihar for the second day in the Begusarai district as the agitated youth blocked the Rajbara Gumti road. The movement of trains was affected as agitating protestors chose to voice their concerns by sitting on the railway tracks. Roads were also blocked at many places. During the protest, a tire was burnt on the railway track. Students created ahuge ruckus at Sahebpurkamal railway station in the district as well as arson and stone-pelting.
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Lakhisarai district witnessed a similar furore. A huge group of protestors jointly marched in the district against the scheme by the Central government. During the protest, slogans were also raised against the Central government.
The house of Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi, who is currently in Patna, was attacked in Bettiah in Bihar’s West Champaran district amid protests against the new recruitment scheme that has set off a firestorm. It is said that the BJP office was also attacked in Lakhisarai district.
Protesters set a train on fire in Telangana’s Secunderabad in a protest against #AgnipathScheme.Express video | @Vinaymadapu.#Agnipath pic.twitter.com/t5eeZWaTCr
— (@NewIndianXpress) June 17, 2022
A similar protest against the scheme was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh’s Balia. A huge crowd gathered at Ballia Railway Station in protest against the Agnipath scheme.
“Forces have been deployed at the station since morning. A few hooligans reached there but they were stopped from damaging much of the public property. They attempted stone-pelting. Action being taken,” Ballia District Magistrate Saumya Agarwal said.
(With inputs from agencies)
