Lucknow, Sep 30 (Inditop.com) Two coaches of the Mahananda Express were torched at Hathras in Uttar Pradesh Wednesday by a mob protesting against the closure of the town’s 100-year-old railway station.
Over 100 villagers stopped the train, which plies between New Delhi and Kolkata, at the station and set fire to the bogies, police said. There was panic as passengers trooped out of the train but no one was injured.
When the police reached the site, the crowd attacked them with stones. The police fired tear gas, injuring some protestors.
The railway authorities have decided to close down the Hathras station, about 350 km from here, and shift the operations to Mehu railway station five kilometres away.
The villagers have refused to accept the order.
“A majority of our children go to study to neighbouring districts like Mathura, Agra and Aligarh. Mehu station is about 15 km away. Due to poor transportation, it will be impossible for us to commute,” said Brijesh Kumar, a villager.
