Commuters Block Tracks In Bengal, Seek Permission To Board Special Trains

Commuters started agitating at the stations when they were not allowed to board staff special trains without valid document by the Railway Protection Force personnel, a police officer said.

A section of commuters blocked railway tracks at several stations in West Bengal for about three hours on Thursday, demanding they be allowed to board staff special trains, amid the current COVID-19 restrictions, police said. Demonstrations were held at Mallickpur, Baruipur, Sonarpur, Ghutiari Sharif and Diamond Harbour stations in the Sealdah South Division of the Eastern Railway. Commuters assembled at these stations, alleging that they have been facing hardships to reach their places of work with no availability of public transport, a senior police officer said. They started agitating at the stations when they were not allowed to board staff special trains without valid document by the Railway Protection Force personnel, he said.