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Thursday, Feb 05, 2009
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Irate Mumbai commuters ground train services

Rahi Gaikwad

Thousands left stranded on trains and at stations

— Photo: Shashi Ashiwal

Rail tracks being blocked by thousands of office-goers at the Borivili station in Mumbai, disrupting suburban train services for nearly five hours on Wednesday.

Mumbai: On a busy Wednesday morning, Mumbai’s lifeline came to a grinding halt as angry commuters staged an impromptu blockade for several hours at the Borivili station along the western line. They were protesting against the sudden cancellation of a train.

During the rush hour, commuters awaiting a Churchgate-bound local became furious when it was announced at the last minute that the train would arrive on another platform quite a distance away.

“Around 3,000 irate commuters then grounded the trains on the track. They did not allow trains to move ahead. It was a leaderless, non-violent protest, although there was some stone throwing,” said A.K. Sharma, Commissioner, Government Railway Police (GRP).

The Additional Divisional Railway Manager arrived on the scene and tried to assure the agitators in vain. When the talks made no headway, the police resorted to a “minor” lathi charge at 1.20 p.m. to disperse the crowd, Mr. Sharma said. Around 300 police personnel of the GRP and the State Reserve Force were deployed.

The four-hour agitation played havoc with people’s schedules as thousands were left stranded on a number of trains and at stations. Rows of people were seen walking along the rail track.

About 15 men and 15 women were arrested for damaging public property and assaulting police personnel, Mr. Sharma said.

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