Train service suspended in Kashmir

Srinagar, Mar 20: Train service was on Wednesday suspended for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where separatists have called for a general strike in protest against the alleged custodial death of a principal of a local private school in Awantipora in Pulwama on Tuesday.

We have suspended all train runs in the Kashmir valley today after receiving an advisory from divisional administration and police last night, a senior railway official told TNN this morning.

He said, therefore, no train will run on Srinagar-Badgam and Baramulla in north Kashmir. Similarly, no train will also chug on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region, he added.

However, it is the passengers, particularly shuttling between Baramulla to Banihal, who suffer most due to non availability of train service which has become very popular. Train service is being considered fast, safe and cheap against other mode of transport available in the valley, where traffic jam because of dilapidated roads.

He said railway authorities are acting on the advice of local administration keeping in view safety and security of passengers and railway officials and property. In the past railway suffered huge damage during demonstrations and other violence, particularly during strike.

Rizwan died in the custody of Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evoking condemnation.

However, the Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, has ordered magisterial probe while police has also initiated proceedings in the death of Rizwan.