Rail traffic disrupted in Punjab over Tytler issue

Members of a conglomerate of radical Sikh organisations blocked rail traffic in several places in Punjab today to protest against CBI's clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The clean chit to Tytler has generated much heat in the already charged up political season as the Punjab Congress is on defensive while the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has left no stone unturned to make it an election issue.

Members of a conglomerate of radical Sikh organisations blocked rail traffic in several places in Punjab on Wednesday to protest against CBI's clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

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The activists of Sant Samaj, which includes organisations like Damdami Taksal and Dal Khalsa, squatted on rail line at Gyaspura village near Ludhiana, Beas and Dakoya in Jalandhar, official sources said in Chandigarh.

According to the Punjab Government Railway Police (GRP), the blockade will last for four hours between 11 am to 1500 and most of the trains pass through the state either in the morning or in the evening.

"Most of the trains will not be affected by the blockade," a GRP official said, adding that some of the passenger trains had been stopped at railway stations as a precautionary measure.

The trains that have been affected due to the blockade, include Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi express, Malwa express and Paschim express, the GRP said.

Sant Samaj convener Baba Harnam Singh Dhuma said the protest was successful and peaceful.

The clean chit to Tytler has generated much heat in the already charged up political season as the Punjab Congress is on defensive while the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has left no stone unturned to make it an election issue.