BOMBAY, 11 December 2005 — The railway police yesterdaymorning resorted to cane charge and used tear gas to disperse a large number of commuters who had disrupted rail traffic on the Western Railway, leading to chaos at several suburban and main railway stations.
Hundreds of rail commuters and several activists of NGOs squatted on the rail tracks on the Borivli-Virar section protesting against the apathy shown by the railway authorities toward the complaints of the suburban rail commuters. The protesters also alleged that the railways was ignoring their pleas for more trains on the suburban section as it was difficult to board the trains due to overcrowding.
Twenty suburban trains were affected and eight long distance trains were delayed for several hours at different stations where they were halted as precaution and safety measure to prevent any danger to the lives of the passengers. The protesters sat on the rail tracks at Vasai Road, Mira Road, Naigaon and Nalasopara stations.
At the Nalasapora station, the police lobbed tear gas shells to control the angry mob of protesters, while at Vasai Road, the police resorted to can charge to bring the situation under control, where former petroleum minister and BJP leader Ram Naik had led the agitation.
About 50 outstation trains which were held up, would not complete their entire route. Inbound Bombay trains which were delayed have resumed their journey. The Delhi-bound August Kranit Superfast train which was scheduled to leave at 5 p.m. would be delayed by another six hours.
According to the railway police, 15 policemen sustained injuries due to stone pelting by the crowd, while some protesters were also injured in the cane charge.
