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Hyderabad: Train
traffic between Hyderabad and other parts of India is likely to be
thrown out gear Tuesday with groups demanding separate statehood
to Telangana calling for a 'rail roko', or rail blockade, across
the region.
The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading
the movement for separate state, has asked people to stop the
trains by squatting on the tracks in the entire region, comprising
10 districts including Hyderabad.
The JAC, which includes the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and
other regional groups, is demanding that the central government
introduce in parliament a bill for formation of a separate
Telangana state.
Telangana leaders of the ruling Congress and the main opposition
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have also declared their support for the
rail blockade.
JAC convenor M. Kodandaram said the daylong programme would begin
at 6 a.m. Tuesday and bring the movement of trains to a complete
halt. He appealed to people to make the programme a success by
squatting on the tracks in every village.
South Central Railway (SCR), which has its headquarters here,
operates many trains through Telangana, connecting cities like
Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Bangalore and Delhi.
Both police and railway authorities have warned the protesters
that strict action would be taken against them if they resort to
attacks on passengers or railway property. The police will patrol
important trunk routes and beef up security at railway stations to
prevent any untoward incidents.
Director General of Police Aravinda Rao said police were making
all arrangements for protection of people and property. The
district police, the Government Railway Police Force, and the
Railway Protection Force (RPF) are jointly coordinating the
arrangements.
He said information and past experience show that there is
likelihood of sabotage to railway tracks with fish plates being
removed and signal equipment being tampered with or destroyed.
These can result in serious accidents, causing great loss to human
life.
"Cases will be booked under the Railway Act, 1989, in addition to
IPC sections of Law. Punishments under the Railway Act will be
more rigorous for offences like stoppage of trains, squatting on
railway track etc," the police chief said in a statement.
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