New Delhi: One person died and nearly 10 were injured in Telangana’s Secunderabad Friday in the violent protests against Agnipath, the Centre’s short-term recruitment scheme for the Armed Forces.
An official of the South Central Railway (SCR) said there was an incident of firing to control the rampaging mob at the Secunderabad railway station.
SCR sources said protesters pulled out cargo from a coach, dumped it on the tracks and set them on fire.
Station stalls were also looted, stones hurled and window panes and seats smashed.
Divisional Railway Manager at Secunderabad station A.K. Gupta said protestors set fire to four to five train engines and two, three coaches. “We’ll analyse the extent of the damage. There is information about one injured person. Train services have been temporarily halted for the safety of passengers.”
The Hyderabad Metro also suspended operation on all three lines till further notice.
Telangana Minister K.T. Rama Rao tweeted in the morning: “The violent protests against #AgniveerScheme is an eye-opener & indicator of the magnitude of unemployment crisis in the country. Pehle Desh ke Kisan Ke Saath खिलवाड़ Aur Ab Desh ke Jawan Ke Saath खिलवाड़ From One Rank – One Pension to proposed No Rank – No Pension!”
Protests have spread to the south while shaking up other states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in the last three days. Violence has been reported in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh too in the outcry that intensified Friday.
The Railways said over 200 trains have been affected so far, while 35 have been cancelled.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw appealed to the youth not to indulge in violence and damage property.
Also read: Trains set ablaze in Ballia, Secunderabad as protests over Agnipath scheme spread to more states