Chaos at Ashoknagar Station: Passengers’ Protest Halts Train Services, Sparks Clash with Police

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, November 15, 2024, Ashoknagar: Long-simmering frustrations of daily commuters erupted into a full-blown protest on Friday morning at Ashoknagar station, severely disrupting railway services on the Bangaon line. Passengers, upset over frequent service disruptions and truncated routes, halted two trains, bringing rail traffic to a standstill for several hours.

The protesters accused railway authorities of failing to provide reliable service. Trains meant to run up to Majerhat station often terminate prematurely, forcing passengers to disembark at other stations. This has been a recurring issue, with commuters claiming they are regularly inconvenienced and harassed.

As the protest intensified, the situation turned chaotic. The railway gate collapsed, blocking Jessore Road and causing widespread disruption during peak office hours. Stranded commuters found themselves stuck both on the tracks and on the road.

Police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel arrived to disperse the protestors, but their intervention only escalated tensions.

In the ensuing confrontation, police reportedly resorted to baton charges to break up the blockade. Protesters retaliated by hurling bricks and stones, injuring several officers. One sub-inspector sustained a severe facial injury and was seen bleeding while searching for his helmet amidst the chaos.

Passengers were also caught in the melee, with several reportedly beaten and a number of protestors detained. The scene at Ashoknagar station quickly descended into mayhem.

After a standoff lasting 2-3 hours, the blockade was lifted, and train services resumed. However, the core grievances of the passengers remain unresolved. Protesters questioned whether any concrete steps would be taken to address their longstanding issues.

The incident has raised concerns about the state of railway services and the handling of protests by law enforcement. Commuters are demanding accountability and lasting solutions to ensure smooth and reliable train services.

For now, while train operations have returned to normal, the simmering discontent among daily passengers suggests that this may not be the last such protest if their demands continue to be ignored.