Protesting farmers gathered near rail tracks in parts of Punjab and Haryana today for the ”rail roko” protest against the Centre’s new farm laws. Trains have been stopped at many places as part of precautionary measure.
The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmer unions which is spearheading the protest, last week had announced the nationwide rail blockade to press for its demand to repeal the legislations and had said that the agitation would be held from noon to 4 pm.
Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) members will block railway tracks at 22 places, including at Nabha, Mansa, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Jalandhar and Tarn Taran in Punjab, the organisation’s general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said.
The officials said movement of trains is likely to be delayed because of the farmers’ rail blockade. Train services would be resumed after following due security protocols once the agitation is over, they said.
Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Division, GM Singh, said that no train had been cancelled in view of the agitation.
In Ambala, farmers gathered near railway tracks at Shahpur village, about two kilometres from the Ambala Cantt railway station. Four trains are scheduled to pass through Ambala between noon and 4 pm, railway officials said.
