Gujjar protests in Rajasthan disrupt train services

The agitation by the Gujjar community, led by Kirori Singh Bainsla, entered the second day today disrupting road and rail traffic in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.

The authorities have diverted several trains and stopped buses on two routes, official sources said.

Janshatabdi express and Jamunabridge express have been cancelled while movement of two dozen other trains has been affected in the Bharatpur-Sawaimadhopur section, they said.

A Rajasthan State Road Transport Corporation official said that buses on the Hindaun-Bayana and Hindaun-Bharatpur routes have been stopped due to the agitation.

Security forces have been deployed in Pilukapur area as the agitators are camping at the Delhi-Mumbai rail tracks near the region, a senior police official said.

"Additional forces of Reserved Armed Constabulary, Railway Protection Force and Government Railway Police have been deployed for the security of railway stations, rail tracks and nearby areas," the official said.

The Gujjars led by Bainsla started an agitation yesterday in Bharatpur district to press for their demand for reservation for the community, even as the Gehlot government stated that it would try to solve the issue through talks.

Police have lodged an FIR against Kirori Singh Bainsla, Harprasad Gujjar, Roop Singh and 1,000 others under relevant sections of IPC, PDP and Railway Act for blocking the Bayana-Hindaun road and damaging public property including railway tracks.

The case was lodged last night with Bayana police station, the police said today.

Meanwhile, Railways today diverted a number of trains between Mathura and Kota as a precautionary measure due to the agitation.

The trains which have been diverted include the Mumbai Central-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Mumbai Central-Hazrat Nizamuddin Augustkranti Rajdhani Express, Mumbai Central-Amritsar Golden Temple Mail, Udaipur-Hazrat Nizamuddin Intercity Express and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Trivandrum Rajdhani Express.

Hazrat Nizamuddin-Kota Janshatabdi Express trains have been cancelled today.