Mob sets afire train in Etah, rail traffic affected

Lucknow, Apr 5 (UNI) Traffic on the Kasganj-Kanpur route was dirupted for hours today after an irate mob tried to set ablaze a railway coach at Badharikala railway station in Etah district, following the death of a teacher after falling off the same passenger train.

Principal Secretary (Home) S K Agrawal said here that Farrukhabad-Kasganj passenger train was coming to Kasganj around 0800 hrs.

At Sahawar station, a local school teacher -- Mukesh (25) -- boarded a coach, in which Railway Protection Force (RPF) jawans were escorting government cash worth Rs 20 lakh, Mr Agrawal added.

Mukesh fell off the train near the Sahawar outer signal and died.

The news soon spread and an irate mob comprising locals and students stopped the train at Badharikala station and tried to set afire the coach occupied by RPF. They also pelted stones, he said.

The villagers alleged Mukesh was pushed out by the RPF personnel resulting in his death.

RPF had to resort to firing to control the mob, in which one person sustained grievous bullet wounds.

The cash was untouched in the incident.

Later, in protest against the incident, locals led by former MP Sakshi Maharaj, blocked the traffic on the Kasganj-Kanpur route by staging 'dharna' on the rail tracks.

Senior railway officials from the Izzatnagar rail division reached the spot and cleared the blockade after assuring a Rs five lakh compensation to the bereaved family and Rs two lakh assistance to the injured. The officials also assured punitive action against the guilty RPF personnel, Mr Agrawal added.

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