Bihar has been in news for all the wrong reasons as two violent incidents has occured in the state in the last 24 hours. Special train from Haryana, carrying some 1,300 people home to the northeastern States was attacked, and 12 passengers on a bus from Madhya Pradesh were abused and threatened.
The journey for the returnees from Haryana was going all well until their train stopped at Danapur in Bihar early on Sunday morning. Chaos started when the passengers, mostly young persons from northeastern States, refused to let several people waiting on the platform into the train.
“We did not allow the people to board the special train because of the COVID-19 threat. At that they attacked the train and broke the window panes with sticks and stones,” reported Renponi Kithan, one of the passengers.
Her co-travellers revealed that the police was standing there as mute spectators as the people hurled abuse and threatened to burn the train down. They also accused the police of beating some of the returnees in the train instead of disciplining the violent crowd.
This happened after we had spent more than 20 hours on the train without food and water,” said Franto Tohoi, another passenger. He added that the train, which was supposed to be a direct service, was making long halts at several stations. “At this rate, we don’t know when we will reach our destinations.”
Subhanan Chandra, the chief spokesperson of Northeast Frontier Railway said the matter had been raised with officials of the East Central Railway. “It was a minor issue which the security personnel handled. The train is on the move and is being escorted by the Railway Protection Force,” he said.
In response to reports from passengers Robin Hibu, a Delhi-based IPS officer from Arunachal Pradesh, said he had discussed the matter with Additional Director-General of Bihar Police, Kundan Krishnan. “He directed the local police to take strict action. I have requested him for strengthening railway security during these days when special trains run to the northeast ,” Mr. Hibu said.
