Title - Rlys suffers losses worth Rs 2 lakh in stone-pelting during Eid festivity

Srinagar:
While trains resumed their full operation in Kashmir on Tuesday after nine days, officials claim that railway property worth lakhs was damaged in stone-pelting incidents during Eid festivity.The stone-pelting on racks on August 10 had forced the authorities not only to suspend the additional trains that were to be run for three days during the Eid festivity, but the full train operation from Banihal to Baramulla remained suspended for nine days. The trains, however, plied partially between Budgam to Banihal during that period.“The preliminary estimates show that railway property worth Rs 2 lakh was damaged during the stone-pelting incidents on August 10 at various railway stations of south Kashmir,” said a railway official. “Apart from racks, railway stations were also damaged in the stone-pelting incidents,” he added.The railway police had later arrested dozens of youth allegedly involved in the incidents from various localities. The youth were arrested from Awantipora, Anantnag, Kakapora, Pampore and various other areas.

After the communal clashes in Kishtawar, the Railway authorities were advised by the police in Jammu not to ply any trains up to Banihal on August 10 fearing damage to the rail property. So the Railways decided to ply the trains between Qazigund to Baramulla. When passengers were asked to alight before their destinations they were caught unaware and subsequently vented their anger by pelting the railway racks with stones. Incidents of stone-pelting were reported at several stations, including Qazigund in south Kashmir.