sakala janula samme rail roko

Telangana Rail Roko: DGP Warns of Severe Action

The State police has reiterated that it will act tough against those who try to enforce Rail Roko agitation scheduled from October 15 to 17 as part of the ongoing Sakala Janula Samme by Telangana Political Joint Action Committee. Addressing a press conference at the State Police Headquarters on Thursday, Director General of Police V Dinesh Reddy said that the police would book cases under the Railways Act and other serious offences if the train services were disrupted in the State. Quoting over a dozen sections of Railways Act, Indian Penal Code and other provisions in the law, the DGP advised the activist to restrain from participating in the agitation. "This time we will apply the Railways Act of 1989. All offences under the Act are non-bailable and the punishments vary from 10 years to life imprisonment," the DGP said. Without disclosing the figures, the DGP said that enough number of security personnel belonging to CRPF, RAF, CPMF, BSF, APSP and the State police have been deployed across the region in view of Rail Roko agitation. He said additional forces would be called from the neighbouring States, if required. He also confirmed that 18 companies of Central Reserve Force have been diverted to Hyderabad by the Central Government. Giving a hint that cases booked under the Railways Act could not be withdrawn, the DGP reminded of 294 cases that were earlier booked under the Railways Act. He said although the State police wanted to withdraw those cases, the Railway Board has rejected the proposal and police is now going ahead with the cases. "We are not mentioning various Sections to threaten the activists or organisers, but to educate them. If we apply the Railways Act, then the common students and people who are participating in the strike would suffer," he said. Additional DG (Law & Order​) SA Huda and other senior police officials were also present during the press conference.    

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.