KRv activists ransack railway stations in B'lore

Bangalore, Feb 15: A pro Kannada organisation demanding jobs for locals in the South Western Railways from Union Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, on Thursday, ransacked reservation centres at the Cantonment and Yeshwantpur Railway Stations in the city, besides other places.

They also damaged property at the Kendriya Sadan in the Koramangala area of the city. Lalu referred to the members of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike as "dirty people" when they tried to disrupt a function attended by him at the Tumkur Railway station on Tuesday, leading to the transfer of five top South Western Railway officials.

Lalu apparently was miffed over the officials "casual" management. Those transferred include the Divisional Railway Manager, Bangalore, who has been shunted to Bhubaneswar, the Senior Divisional Commissioner Manager, Bangalore, who has switched places with his counterpart in Mysore, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Area Manager, who has been transferred to Lucknow, and the Chief Security Commandant, Bangalore.

Trouble for the officials began when Lalu chose to visit Chitradurga to attend a Yadav conference. Upon returning to Tumkur to catch a train to Bangalore, his vehicle was delayed at a level crossing for around 10 minutes.

After boarding the train, railway officials realised the minister had not had lunch. As the train did not have a pantry car, the meal was prepared in the General Manager's coach and brought to the minister in a hot case. This was not to his liking.

Lalu was ruffled further when Vedike activists besieged him at Tumkur, and vented his ire on senior officials accompanying him.

ANI