Sambalpur: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) resorted to mild lathicharge as the locals clashed with the police even after the DRM conceded to their demand for halting of trains at Bamra railway station in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Thursday.
Tension prevailed at the station in the morning following a directive from the divisional railway manager (DRM) of Chakradharpur, Arun Jatoh Rathod to withdraw stoppages of all trains at Bamra. The DRM had issued the order after the locals resorted to rail roko for 11 hours on Wednesday demanding halting of more trains at the station.
Following the order, the agitators locked the ticket counter and signal room at the station, while Azad Hind Express remained stranded due to the protest. In the afternoon, the DRM and other Railway officials held a discussion with the leaders of Bamra Rail Kriyanusthan Committee, spearheading the agitation. After the discussion, the DRM issued another order directing the Bamra railway station manager to halt all the scheduled trains.
After the DRM made the announcement and the officials left Bamra station, the locals were engaged in a scuffle with the RPF personnel deployed there. As a clash ensued, the protesters pelted stones at the RPF personnel, damaging police vehicles and injuring some personnel. It led the RPF to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the mob.
Speaking to media persons on the incident, the DRM said, “Despite assurances, protests continued. We had to cancel and divert 50 express trains on Wednesday posing problems to nearly 1 lakh passengers. We had appealed the agitators to disperse from the venue so that the movement of trains can be restored.”
