After Dera violence, train operations resume in Punjab and Haryana; Mobile internet services to remain suspended
Train operations in Punjab and Haryana, severely affected by violence in two states, have been restored, except in the Delhi-Rohtak-Bathinda section, a railway ministry statement said today.
Published: 27th August 2017 06:33 PM | Last Updated: 27th August 2017 07:02 PM | A+A A-
Army jawans proceed towards Dera Sacha Sauda sect headquarters in Sirsa amidst a curfew on Saturday | PTI
NEW DELHI: Train services in Punjab and Haryana—that were severely hit by violence perpetrated by Dera followers for two days—were restored on Sunday, except in the Delhi-Rohtak-Bathinda section. Railway ministry issued a statement in this regard on Sunday. However, it asked passengers to check the railway’s online or telephonic enquiry facilities to find about train’s status before taking a train for these two states.
Regarding the Delhi-Rohtak-Bathinda section, the ministry said that the security clearance for the section is awaited from state authorities. Twenty five train services which were halted due to issues of rake balancing and availability had not been restored. The conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a rape case on August 25 by a CBI court at Panchkula in Haryana triggered widespread violence. 36 people died and over 250 were injured in the violence. Protests by followers of the Dera chief also forced the railways to cancel many trains in the region.
Though train operations were almost restored in the two states, mobile internet services remained suspended on Sunday. State officials said that mobile Internet services will remain suspended in Haryana and Punjab till Tuesday to prevent the spread of rumours in view of the tense situation in these states. A notification to block mobile Internet services and data services had been issued earlier.
Mobile Internet services, which were suspended for 72 hours in Haryana, ahead of the court verdict on Friday, will continue to remain suspended till Tuesday, officials said on Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Amrinder Singh had announced on Saturday that mobile Internet services will remain suspended in the state till Tuesday. The two states have been on high alert with curfew being imposed at many sensitive places. The CBI court at Panchkula will pronounce the quantum of sentence in the rape case against Gurmeet in Rohtak on Monday.
