• Protests staged by several parties, outfits; several injured in lathicharge to disperse mob
Tension prevailed at Marikuppam railway station near Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) on Thursday as passengers staged a protest condemning the introduction of a new train with lesser number of compartments. Police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the mob.
The South-Western Railways has introduced a MEMU train in place of Swarna Express which is being operated from Marikuppam to Bengaluru. While Swarna Express had 19 compartments, the MEMU train has only 12. Since thousands of people travel to Bengaluru every day, the reduction of bogies has caused inconvenience to passengers, prompting the protest.
Stones thrown at train
Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) functionaries and daily commuters joined the protest at Marikuppam station, causing disruption of service for about an hour. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob in order to facilitate movement of the train. As soon as the train started moving, some miscreants pelted stones at the train. A couple of people including DYFI leader P. Tangaraj suffered minor injuries in the lathicharge.
Congress leaders Roopa, KGF CMC president Ramesh, CPI(M) leader A.R. Babu, and Mr. Tangaraj were those who led the protest.
When the train arrived at Urgaum station, people led by former MLA and Janata Dal (Secular) functionary M. Bhaktavatsalam stopped it for several minutes to register their protest.
The Railways brought in the train with fewer bogies in spite of the demand by the people as well as Kolar MP K.H. Muniyappa to enhance the facility. Mr. Muniyappa had written a letter to the SWR officials urging them to increase the number of compartments to cope with the demand.
Case against nine
Bangarpet Railway police have registered cases against nine persons including Congress leader Roopakala, daughter of MP K.H. Muniyappa, for staging the protest on the railway track at Marikuppam.
