By IANS,
Hyderabad : Ignoring the “rail blockade” call by Telangana groups for Oct 12-14, the railways Monday decided to operate all trains in Telangana with police security and warned the protesters of strict action if they obstruct train traffic or damage railway property.
Unlike in the previous phases of Telangana agitation when the railways cancelled all trains as a precautionary measure, it has decided not to suspend any service this time.
With Andhra Pradesh government assuring full security, South Central Railway (SCR) decided to run all the trains as scheduled in Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.
The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is spearheading the movement for separate Telangana state, has called for three-day rail blockade to further intensify the ongoing “people’s strike” in the region.
The two-day rail blockade on Sep 24 and 25 had forced railways to cancel all the trains running through the region.
Railway and state police authorities Monday served a stern warning to protesters against disrupting rail traffic and damaging railway property, saying they could even face life imprisonment.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S.A. Huda said they would book the protesters under various sections of Railway Act, which provide the minimum imprisonment of six months and maximum of life imprisonment.
The official pointed out that so far police were detaining those blocking the trains for one day and releasing them. “This time we will book them under Railway Act in addition to IPC (Indian Penal Code) sections,” he told reporters.
Additional Director General of Police (Railways) V.S.K. Kaumudi also cautioned the leaders that they would also be booked along with the protesters.
“The abetment attracts same sections. People who incite and people who provoke will be booked under the same sections applied to those who come on to the tracks (to stop trains),” he said.
The official clarified that they want to ensure safety of passengers and public property and that they are not for any confrontation.
JAC convenor M. Kodandaram, however, said they would go ahead with the rail blockade.
JAC comprises Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and several political and non-political groups fighting for a separate state.