Farmers in Punjab have threatened to stage a rail blockade on October 7 and 8 in protest against the government's "anti-farmer" policies (Press Trust of India photo)
Hundreds of farmers in Punjab have threatened to block rail traffic at many places across the state today and tomorrow, in protest against the state government's "anti-farmer" policies.
Here are the latest developments:
Four trains have already been cancelled and 12 have been diverted ahead of the planned blockade.
There is tight security at railway stations where farmers plan to stage protest.
"We are going ahead with our plan to block rail traffic on October 7 and 8 at different places in Punjab to press the Centre and state government to accept our demands," Sukhdev Singh Kokri, General Secretary of BKU (Ugrahan), one of eight farmers' organisations participating in the agitation, said on Tuesday.
Farmers are demanding a compensation of Rs 40,000 per acre for cotton crops damaged by the whitefly attack. The pest has already destroyed hundreds of acres of cotton crops in last few days.
They are also seeking Rs five lakh financial assistance to families of farmers who committed suicide due to mounting debt.
Many farmers have gone into hiding fearing preventive arrests by the government ahead of their planned agitation - leaders of farmers' groups are reportedly moving from one 'safe house' to another.
Officials say farmers' groups have not shared their protest plan with railway or district authorities.
Farmers have threatened to disrupt rail services at 12 places including Rampura in Bathinda, Mansa, Sunam in Sangrur, Moga, Beas, Phillaur in Jalandhar, Fazilka, Ferozepur and Patiala.
Security personnel will be deployed to prevent protesters from disrupting rail services, said Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Rohit Chaudhary.
Among the trains that have been cancelled are Amritsar-Indore Express, Ferozpur-Mumbai Central Express, Indore-Chandigarh and Mumbai Central-Ferozpur Express.
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