SUNAM, Oct 15 — Rail Traffic between Jakhal-1-Dhuri stations on the Ludhiana-Hisar section remained suspended here since Friday as the activists of the CPI, the CPM, the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta) and paddy growers blocked rail traffic at the Chhajli railway station, 6 km from here.

The trains —1 LJ runs between Jakhal-Ludhiana, 3 LJ runs between Jakhal-Ludhiana, 1 LJH runs between Hisar-Ludhiana, 2 LJH runs between Ludhiana-Hisar, 2 LJ runs between Ludhiana Jakhal which usually runs on the Hisar-Ludhiana section — are not running on scheduled route. These trains are running between Jakhal-Hisar and Dhuri-Ludhiana which has disrupted the Jakhal-Dhuri traffic. The non-running of passenger as well as goods trains between Jakhal-Dhuri section causes multi-lakh revenue loss to Northern Railway. It also harassment passengers, employees and students.

Paddy growers blocked railway track in protest against the non-acceptance of their demands. They are demanding that the state as well as Central Government agencies should procure PR 106 fine variety of paddy for Rs 540 per quintal whereas other varieties of paddy IR-8 for Rs 510 per quintal MSP fixed by the Centre earlier. They are not ready to sell their paddy at new rates of Rs 515 and Rs 485 fixed by the Centre for paddy varieties, respectively.

The open auction of paddy here and at adjoining centres has been closed since Friday as there is controversy among officials of the procurement agencies and the market committee over the new and old rates of paddy announced by the Centre. Officials of procurement agencies claim that as per the directions of Centre issued to them they are ready to purchase paddy at new rates whereas the officials of the Market Committee are insisting on old rates.

Mr Balkar Singh superintendent, Market Committee, Sunam, when contacted on phone here today said he had a wireless message from high officials that the paddy varieties should not be sold than its old MSP i.e. Rs 540 and Rs 510 per quintal. This difference in the purchase rates of paddy leads to the closure of open auction of paddy which also creates panic among the farmers.

MANSA: After failing to pressurise the government for speedy procurement of paddy through dharnas, traffic jams and ‘rail roko’ agitations, the farmers have now started taking extreme steps. The activists of the BKU (Ekta) in this district have decided to go on indefinite fast. Mr Gurtej Singh Mirpur to the BKU (Ekta) while giving the details of the agitation said that they would sit on fast in front of office of Markfed at Sardulgarh. He said that he himself would start the fast tomorrow.

Meanwhile rail roko at Budhlada in this district has entered third day today. The cancelled trains have not been restarted yet. The number of farmers sitting on track is in creasing with each day. The determined farmers have made all arrangements for food and other eatables. New specifications and prices for paddy have become the main demands of agitating farmers. They are demanding not only speedy procurement of paddy but also minimum support price (MSP) announced earlier. Vice-President of the BKU (Ekta) Rulda Singh has said that five kisan unions have decided at a meeting today that the rail roko andolan would go on indefinitely, earlier only the BKU (Ekta) was sitting on indefinite dharna on Railway track at Budhlada.

Mr Manjeet Singh Jhalbuti member  executive committee PPCC said that about 300 activists would leave for Delhi to-night from here for tomorrow’s rally to be held by Mr Jagmeet Singh Brar Congress MP at Delhi.

MOGA (PTI): Rail traffic on the Ferozepur-Ludhiana section of Northern Railway remain suspended and thrown out of gear on the third day today.

The ‘rail roko’ agitation call given by the kisan unions of state at an emergency meeting held at Ajitwal Railway station on the Moga-Ludhiana section where blockade of rail track was staged, decided to continue the ‘rail roko’ agitation for indefinite period.

More than 500 farmers with their families including, 100 women spent the whole night for the second consecutive night at the Railway track last night.

Mr Sukhdev Singh Kokari, vice-president, BKU (Ekta) after the meeting disclosed that the meeting had decided to continue their ‘rail roko’ agitation and also decided to spread it on the rail routes in the state from tomorrow if the Centre failed to meet their demands.

Their demands including speedy procurement, withdrawal of Rs 25 per quintal reduction in procurement of damaged and discoloured paddy, compensation to distress sale and withdrawal of hike in petroleum products.

Meanwhile, R.P. Pachharwala, Commanding Officer-cum-Commissioner Railway Protection Force Ferozepur Division this afternoon visited Ajitwal Railway station and reviewed the security arrangements with the senior officers of the RPF stationed there to meet any untoward incident.