Bharat Bandh Call Over Agnipath: 500 Trains Cancelled, Traffic Jams In Many Cities

A nation-wide call for Bharat Bandh announced for today against the Centre¡¯s new recruitment policy for the defence forces, Agnipath has led to the protests, traffic chaos and train cancellations.

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Reports said that security has been beefed up across various states amid calls for Bharat Bandh. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are on high alert.

Heavy security arrangements have caused massive traffic jams across Delhi-NCR. A heavy traffic jam was reported on the Sarhaul border at Delhi-Gurugram expressway as Delhi Police began checking vehicles.

Over 500 trains have been cancelled today in view of the Bharat Bandh call by some organisations demanding its roll back. The railways have suffered a major loss of property due to arson and rioting by the protesters over the last five days, NDTV reported.

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Police personnel were also seen inside DTC buses in the national capital so as to avoid any protests or damage to the buses.

Reportedly, Indian Youth Congress workers suddenly streamed onto the tracks at Shivaji Bridge Railway station in Delhi and stopped a train. They raised slogans demanding the rollback of the Agnipath scheme before being lifted away and detained by police at the scene. One protester injured in the incident was taken to hospital for treatment.

¡°The government of India needs to roll back the Agniveer scheme, Youth Congress will fight for the unemployed youth of this country who want to serve the country and arm its forces,¡± a protester told India Today.

However, the police have warned of strict action against any person trying to disturb the law and order situation.

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The Noida¡¯s police on Sunday reiterated that CrPC section 144 is imposed in the district and asked people to not engage in any activity which disrupts law and order.

Congress leaders have sat on a 'Satyagraha' at Jantar Mantar in the national capital to express solidarity with the armed forces aspirants protesting against the 'Agnipath' scheme. Delhi Minister Gopal Rai said several organisations will organise a joint movement at the protest site.

Uttar Pradesh Police said strict action will be taken against those found involved in jeopardising peace. In Punjab, the police have been asked to monitor the activities of social media groups which are allegedly mobilising or spreading instigating information about the scheme.

The Bihar government has increased security at party offices considered vulnerable. As of now, internet services remain shut in 20 districts. In Jharkhand, all schools will remain closed today.

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Security has been stepped up at several locations in Haryana, Kerala, Telangana, West Bengal and Rajasthan also to avoid any untoward incident. In Jammu, Police detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers ahead of a planned protest march in the province today. The AAP's Jammu convenor Om Prakash Khajuria was also taken into custody, he told local media while being escorted away by police.

Indian Railways is on alert mode amid the call as Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) are kept ready to deal with any situation. It is reported that senior RPF officers have ordered all the units to deal strictly with the rioters. Along with this, the police have been asked to collect digital evidence through mobile phones, CCTVs.

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