Lalu threatens to suspend train movement after Maharashtra killings

New Delhi, Oct 29 : In the wake of killing of a north Indian youth on a train in Mumbai, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav has threatened to suspend train movement in states where rail passengers and properties are repeatedly attacked.

Talking to reporters here, Yadav said, "If railway properties and passengers continued to be attacked we may think of cancelling train operations in those areas."

Yadav, however, clarified that he did not mean any particular state.

He also spoke to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress party president Sonia Gandhi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh over the issue.

He announced an ex-gratia of Rs. three lakh for the kin of the victim, Dharam Dev Rai who was beaten to death on a train in Badlapur in Maharashtra, after the miscreants identified him as a "North Indian".

The Minister also criticised Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for allegedly publishing derogatory remarks against him and north Indians.

He demanded registration of a case of murder against Maharashtra policemen for the Monday shoot-out in a bus in which Rahul Raj, a youth from Patna was shot dead.

ANI