Srinagar, Oct 24: Train service remained suspended for security reasons for the third day on Wednesday in the Kashmir valley, where Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL) has called for “ Kulgam challo” to protest against the killings of seven civilians in Kulgam on Sunday.
Train service was suspended for security reasons in the valley on October 22 in view of strike call by JRL against the Kulgam incident while train could not be resumed because of “Lal Chowk Challo” by JRL on Tuesday.
This is the 9th time that train service has been suspended in the Kashmir valley partially or fully since October 8, when first of the four phase Urban Local Bodies (ULB) polling was held.
Three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter by security forces at village Laroo in Kulgam on Sunday. However, immediately after the encounter was over, large number of people gathered there during which a blast took place leaving six persons dead and scores injured. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of deceased and described the killing of civilians as very unfortunate.
Train service remained suspended in south Kashmir since Sunday, a senior railway official told UNI. He said train runs were suspended on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region on Sunday when encounter ensued in Kulgam, adding no train will chug on Wednesday also following fresh advisory received from police last night.
He said train service which was normal in north Kashmir on Sunday remained suspended from Monday. No train will run on Srinagar-Badgam-Baramulla in north Kashmir track on Wednesday also, he added.
He said railway department is acting on the advice of local administration, particularly police since the safety and security of passenger was important. He said in the past railway suffered losses worth crores of rupees in violence during protests and hartals. However, train service has become very popular as it is cheap, fast and safe against other mode of transport available in the valley. UNI
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