Lekhpal aspirants create ruckus, block train movement for hours

ALLAHABAD: Violent agitation by Chakbandi Lekhpal aspirants brought train movement on Mughalsarai-Allahabad-Kanpur section of busy Howrah-New Delhi route came to a standstill for four to five hours on Sunday. Several reasons fuelled the protest which later turned violent. The agitators also fought pitched battle with the police. The agitators also blocked National Highway-2 and set an UPSRTC bus on fire.
According to reports, irked over the delayed run of Toofan Express, agitators created ruckus at Sujatpur and Athsarai railway stations between Fatehpur and Allahabad. Owing to the delayed run of the train several aspirants failed to appear in the exam. Other factors, including mismanagement and delay in distribution of papers at various examination centres, only added to agitators’ anger. Another group of agitators targeted an UPSRTC bus on Allahabad-Kanpur National Highway-2 and brought the traffic movement to a halt for half an hour.
The trouble started early morning after aspirants travelling in Toofan Express failed to reach examination centre as the train was running behind schedule. After leaving Sirathu station, the train was again stopped at the outer signal of Athsarai station. It proved to be the last straw for aspirants travelling in the train. They lost their cool and squatted on the tracks.
A few angry aspirants also pelted stones on AC coaches damaging its glass panes. They also damaged a few signals. Movement of trains on both the up and down lines on New Delhi-Howrah route was completely paralysed.
The ruckus continued for more than three hours. Upon receiving information, large posse of police from Allahabad, Fatehpur and PAC rushed to the spot and chased away the agitators. The agitators also fought pitched battle with police and indulged in brick-batting at different spots.
Kaushambi SP K Ejilearassane said, “Situation is under control and force has been deployed to maintain law and order.” He, however, said that the local police with the help of GRP and RPF tackled the situation and chased away agitating aspirants.
The SP said that aspirants indulged in violent protest over delay in distribution of papers and as some could not reach examination centres due to delayed run of train.
Police also chased away agitators who targeted an UPSRTC bus under Saini police station in Allahabad. The traffic on National Highway -2 came to a standstill for more than 30 minutes due to the agitation.
Trouble was also witnessed at Sujatpur railway station. Due to the agitation, movement of trains was completely paralyzed. Other aspirants travelling in Nadan Kanan Express created noisy scene at Sujatpur railway station as they had to reach Kanpur to appear in second shift examination scheduled at 3 pm. These aspirants also tried to force the ASM (assistant station master) to allow their train to move ahead so that they could reach Kanpur on time. Agitated over this, they also set the control panel on fire. However, security personnel reached the spot and chased them away.
Cops said that after the protesters dispersed Toofan Express moved on its onward journey around 2: 55 pm. Later, other trains were also allowed.
North Central Railway CPRO Bijay Kumar said, “Such an incident during peak rush Diwali period is unfortunate. Aspirants and students blocked train traffic between Allahabad and Kanpur section”.
A senior cop in Allahabad said that adequate police force was rushed to control agitating aspirants. He added that police with the help of PAC and RAF chased away agitators from railway stations.