3-day Telangana rail roko from today

The state government and South Central Railway (SCR) are bracing for unrest and violence during the three-day-long ‘rail roko’ called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) from Saturday till Monday. While DGP Dinesh Reddy has warned Telangana activists against disrupting rail services or damaging property,the state government has received reports that Telangana activists may resort to violence if stopped.

The DGP warned protesters that they would be booked under the Railway Act of 1989,under which all offences are non-bailable. “It is fine if they register their protest for a couple of hours by stopping trains but prolonging it for more than a day or resorting to damaging railway property will be dealt with very strictly,’’ he said. Telangana leaders criticised him for trying to instill fear among the people.

The SCR has cancelled 48,partially cancelled 38,and diverted 68 trains in view of the proposed ‘rail roko’ stir. It has planned to run 20 express,mail and passenger trains,and Kacheguda-Bangalore Express,Kacheguda-Yeshwantpur Express,and Kacheguda-Chennai-Egmore will run as per schedule.