The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Angry passengers vandalise two trains at Hejjala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Angry passengers vandalise two trains at Hejjala

K.V. Subramanya

The violence was against frequent stops

BANGALORE: Irate passengers on Saturday afternoon ransacked two trains and attacked the engine drivers at Hejjala railway station in Ramanagara district to protest against the frequent stoppages of the trains.

Around 250 passengers of the Tippu Express, which was bound for Mysore from Bangalore, smashed the windowpanes of compartments and the headlights of the engine after the train stopped at the Hejjala station to make way for the Bangalore-bound Shatabdi Express. They pulled out the seats, placed them on the tracks and held a demonstration, the police said.

They forced the driver of the Shatabdi Express to stop the train and smashed its windowpanes also. The passengers assaulted the drivers of the two trains, police said.

When the Hejjala station master intervened, they manhandled him and destroyed the signals at the station, said one of the passengers of the Tippu Express to The Hindu over phone. The incident was confirmed by the Railway police.

According to the police, the Tippu Express left Bangalore City station at 2.15 p.m. The train stopped at Kengeri railway station for a few minutes to ensure the passing of the Bangalore Express that had left Mysore at 12.15 p.m.

After the Tippu Express reached Hejjala around 3.15 p.m., it again stopped for a few minutes to facilitate the passing of the Shatabdi Express and this infuriated the passengers, the police said.

Warning

The police intervened and pacified the passengers and the Tippu Express left Hejjala at 5.30 p.m. But the passengers warned railway officials that they would take a similar step if the train was again stopped before it reached Mysore. The City Railway police have registered a case of rioting and damaging of railway property. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Railways) Krishnappa and other officials visited the Hejjala railway station.

Even on Friday night, the passengers of Bangalore-Mysore push-pull train had staged a demonstration at the Hejjala station after the train was stopped to allow the movement of Tirupati Express, which was coming to Bangalore from Mysore. The passengers had heated exchanges with the railway officials then.

Many commuters travelling between Bangalore and Mysore, complain that the trains reach Mysore too late every day because of the frequent stoppages.

Cause of delay

The Additional Divisional Manager Deepak Chhabra told The Hindu that the delay was due to the track doubling work on Kengeri–Ramanagaram section of Bangalore–Mysore Railway line. “We have been opening tracks, section by section, and recently opened Bidadi–Hejjala section,” he said and added the section beyond Hejjala was to be opened shortly. He said the Railways will initiate action against the anti-social elements who had damaged Railway property.

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