T-activists Derail Locomotive in Adilabad District

Even as director general of police Dinesh Reddy talked tough and warned Telangana agitators of stern action during the proposed rail roko, the activists had their way when they removed fishplates on a railway track in Adilabad district on Tuesday morning. Fortunately, there was no major tragedy as only a locomotive pulling a goods train jumped the rails.

The goods train carrying coal from Singareni mines derailed near Srirampur station. The train was stopped immediately after the locomotive derailed, thus averting a major disaster. Officials carried out the repairs after finding out that some T activists had removed the fishplates. "Luckily the train was moving at a slow pace. That's why there was no major accidents," an official said.

Meanwhile, the DGP, who visited Mahbubnagar district by travelling in a special train from Hyderabad, warned perpetrators of violence of severe action. He said police would take all steps to provide security and ensure safe journey of passengers during the rail roko. He said a three-tier security cover would be in place in all the railway stations, crossings and tracks passing through the entire Telangana region during the stir. Sources said Dinesh Reddy travelled in the train to provide confidence to the passengers and to oversee security arrangements all along the section.

Speaking to newsmen at Mahbubnagar railway station, he said "We will not take any action against the agitators if they conduct protests in a peaceful manner." He also said there would be zero tolerance against the agitators if they try to damage railway property. "They would be booked under relevant sections of the law and imprisoned for a long term," he warned.