Six trains cancelled due to Gujjar agitation

AHMEDABAD: Western Railway on Monday cancelled six trains and diverted three following the blockade of rail tracks in Rajasthan by Gujjars demanding Scheduled Tribe status for better job and educational opportunities.

According to a Western Railway statement, the trains cancelled are: Mumbai Central-Nizamuddin August Kranti Express (2953), Ahmedabad-Nizamuddin Sampark Kranti Express (2917), Mumbai Central-Amritsar Golden Temple Mail (2903), Bandra Terminus-Gorakhpur Awadh Express (9039), Bandra Terminus-Dehradun Dehradun Express (9019) and Mumbai Central-Firozpur Janata Express (9023).

The trains diverted are: Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express (2951) diverted via Ratlam-Nagda-Ujjain-Bhopal, Bandra Terminus-Jammu Tawi Swaraj Express (2471) diverted via Nagda-Ujjain-Bhopal, and Bandra Terminus-Amritsar Paschim Express (2925) diverted via Nagda-Ujjain-Bhopal.

At least 37 people, including two policemen, have been killed in clashes between agitating Gujjars and security forces Friday and Saturday. Head of the Gujjar Sangharsh Aarakshan Samiti (Gujjar pro-reservation front) K.S. Bainsla and hundreds of his supporters have been holding a rail blockade in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.