Radical Sikhs disrupt train service in Punjab

Amritsar (Punjab), Nov 3 : Activists of the radical Sikh outfit Dal Khalsa today blocked trains and buses in Amritsar to enforce the Punjab bandh called by them to protest the alleged inaction against the 1984 riots accused.

The activists blocked the tracks, delaying the movement of many trains including the Shatabdi Express, Sachkhand Express, Paschmi Express, Super Fast, Dadar Kathiar Express and the Tata Mouri Express.

A number of trains have either been cancelled for the day or terminated short of their destination due to the blockade, according to a senior officer of the Ambala Division of the Railway.

A number of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir bound trains were being terminated at Ambala and the other stations in Haryana.

Activists of Dal Khalsa also did not allow any Punjab Roadways bus to move out from the Amritsar main bus stand. Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Amritsar Railway station and the bus stand.

The affected trains included New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express, Amritsar-New Delhi Inter City Express, Amritsar-Hardwar Jan Shatabdi Express, Dadar-Amritsar Express and Howrah-Amritsar Express; besides a number of passenger trains.

Road traffic was also disrupted at many places in the state, including the Chandipur-Ropar National Highway. Initial reports said that the markets were closed at some places.

On October 23, Dal Khalsa supported by the Khalsa Action Committee, had given a shut down call for today to register its protest against the killings of thousands of Sikhs in 1984.

--ANI