Farmers protesting against the Centre’s three contentious farm laws have called for a four-hour nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest between noon and 4 PM on Thursday. In this pic, farmers block trains in Amritsar. (Express photo: Rana Simranjeet)
The ‘rail roko’ protest was announced by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the umbrella body of farmer unions spearheading the agitations, last week. Farmers holding union flags sit on tracks at a railway station in Ludhiana. (Express photo: Rana Simranjeet)
The railway blockade is the third major demonstration by farmers, following the Republic Day tractor rally and the ‘chakka jam’ on February 6. (Express photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Women protest during the 'Rail Roko' agitation in Ludhiana. (Express photo: Rana Simranjeet)
The Railways deployed 20 additional companies of RPSF troops across the country ahead of the protest, PTI reported. (Express photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Jagtar Singh Bajwa, spokesperson of the Kisan Andolan Committee, Ghazipur border told ANI that the ‘rail roko’ protest will be peaceful, adding that the agitating farmers will do what they can to avoid inconveniencing passengers. (Express photo: Rana Simranjeet)
“We will carry out a peaceful protest in the nationwide Rail Roko program on February 18, from 12 pm to 4 pm. We`ll offer refreshments to passengers to avoid inconvenience,” Bajwa said. (Express photo: Gurmeet Singh)
In Punjab, protesters sat on tracks at many places on the Delhi-Ludhiana-Amritsar railway route, officials said. (Express photo: Rana Simranjeet)
In Pune, various poltiical parties including NCP, Congress, and AAP, staged a protest at Pune Railway Station in support of the 'Rail Roko' agitation. (Express Photo: Ashish Kale)
Workers, including women, of various political parties sit on railway tracks at a station in Pune. (Express Photo: Ashish Kale)
Farmers also blocked tracks at the Atoha village in Palwal, Haryana. (Express Photo: Tashi Tobgyal)
The agitation was also carried around West Bengal. (Express Photo: Parth Paul)
Protestors stop a train at jadabpur, West Bengal. (Express Photo: Partha Paul)
In Haryana, protesting farmers, including women, squatted on rail tracks at many places, including in Ambala, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Panchkula districts, the officials said. (Express Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Divisional Railway Manager, Ambala Division, G M Singh said that no train has been cancelled in view of the 'rail roko' agitation. Four trains were scheduled to pass from Ambala between 12 to 4 pm, railway officials said. (Express Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
“I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. We will be liaisoning with district administrations and will have a control room in place,” Director General, Railway Protection Force, Arun Kumar said, adding that extra security measures are being taken in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. (Express Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Members of various farmer organisations block a railway track during the four-hour 'rail roko' demonstration in Sonipat district (PTI)
Passengers stranded at Anand Vihar Railway Station due to the 'rail roko' demonstration. (PTI)
Farmer organisation during the blockade in Patiala. (PTI)
Farmers sat on railway tracks at many places in Punjab and Haryana as part of the ‘rail roko’ protest, with officials stopping trains at stations as a precautionary measure. (Express photo by Harmeet Sodhi)
According to a senior police officer, protests were held at 45 places on railway tracks but they were mostly peaceful.