SP Bandh, Successful in Varanasi, trains stopped

Varanasi, June 13 (UNI) At least 10 trains were stopped at Varanasi Cantonment railway station today by the activists of ruling Samajwadi Party as part of the statewide strike against hike in prices of petroleum products.

The disrupted trains included Howrah-Amritsar Punjab Mail, Varanasi-Gorakhpur Intercity Express, Mughalsarai-Faizabad Passenger, Varanasi-Faizabad Passenger and Varanasi-New Delhi Kashi Vishwanath Express.

The strike evoked near total response with shops and commercial establishments downing shutters across the city, while majority of cinema halls remained closed.

SP activists also blocked roads at various crossings including Lanka, Godowlia, Girjaghar and Chetganj.

A massive dharna was staged by SP activists at the district headquarters, attended by two UP ministers Virendra Singh and Surendra Singh Patel, besides local party MLAs, party MP from Allahabad Reoti Raman Singh, former state minister Shatrudhra Prakash and State Cow Commission Chairman K P Yadav.

Elaborate security arrangements were made by authorities to prevent any untoward incident.

UNI ARS VS CH KN1517