Jamshedpur, May 29: The Chakradharpur unit of All India Loco Running Staff Association today demanded a ban on movement of goods train at night on the Kharagpur-Rourkela section of South Eastern Railway (SER).
“Why a ban only on movement of passenger trains? We want restrictions to also be imposed on movement of goods train as it also poses a risk for the driver and other staff,” said H.N. Singh, secretary of the association.
The association members declared that they would not drive train at night during Naxalite-sponsored bandhs. “During the day time we will work, but the speed limit of the trains should be restricted to 30km per hour,” said Singh. Their decision will remain effective for drivers and assistant drivers of passenger trains.
There have been a number of incidents in the Chakradharpur-Kharagpur section, when Naxalites have targeted the railways by abducting guards and drivers during bandhs.
The association has threatened to intensify its agitation if the grievances are overlooked. Moreover, the association has demanded that during naxal bandhs, the railways should seek the help of paramilitary forces to monitor the railway tracks.
Meanwhile, the body of Niranjan Singh (35), the assistant driver of the goods train who was killed in yesterday’s tragedy near Jhargram, arrived at Tatanagar this evening. The body was kept at the lobby of the association office at the railway station. The aggrieved members of the association and the family members of the deceased demanded compensation of Rs 50 lakh and employment for the dead driver’s next of kin.
Two persons from the steel city, including the driver, lost their lives in the tragic incident. P.Upendra Rao alias Deepu (40), a passenger, was killed in the incident. Rao was a resident of M Road in Bistupur and owned an eatery in Bistupur market.
