Three persons detained for stone-pelting on Rahul Gandhi’s train

Karnal (Haryana)/New Delhi, Sep 17(ANI): Three persons were detained by the Haryana Police on Thursday for allegedly pelting stones at the train in which Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi was traveling on Tuesday.

The Haryana police had, earlier, launched a massive manhunt for a group of young men who had allegedly pelted stones at the Swarn Shatabdi Express near Gharaunda town in Haryana, which was seen as a major security breach by the intelligence agencies.

“We have detained three suspects in this particular case. We have taken them for corroboration and have detained them for further questioning,” V Kamraj, Inspector General of Police.

Kamraj also informed that the three did not possess a criminal background.

“We have not arrested them, but have detained them. They have no criminal background. They are locals from Gharounda,” said Kamraj.

Gandhi had taken the train while returning from Ludhiana, where he went to attend a party youth workshop. Though no one was injured, windowpanes of C-2, C-4 and C-7 were damaged in the stone pelting.

Gandhi was seated in C-3 coach, which was not affected in the incident. (ANI)

Breakthrough found in stone pelting incident on Rahul Gandhi’s train: Police

New Delhi, Sep. 16 (ANI): Police on Wednesday claimed to have found a breakthrough in the stone-pelting incident on the train in which Rahul Gandhi was travelling from Ludhiyana to Delhi.

“We have been able to identify the place where it has taken place, it is a breakthrough. We have found glass pieces at the site and trying to collect scientific evidence. After this we will proceed towards identifying the accused person and then we will take legal action,” said V. Kamraj, inspector general, Rohtak.

On Tuesday, some miscreants pelted stones at the Swarn Shatabdi Express train near Gharaunda town when Congress General Secretary was returning from Ludhiana where he had gone to attend a party youth workshop.

Rahul had boarded the chair car of the train as part of government’s austerity drive.

Though no one was injured, windowpanes of C-2, C-4 and C-7 were damaged in the stone pelting. A stone even fell inside a coach.

Rahul Gandhi was travelling in the C-3 coach.

According to reports, the stone pelting took place between Karnal and Panipat stations in Haryana around 9.45 pm. (ANI)

Mamata Banerjee lauds Rahul Gandhi’s train ride

New Delhi, Sept 17 (ANI): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has lauded Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi’s train ride as part of his party’s austerity drive.

Mamata Banerjee, who inaugurated the newly spruced up terminal of New Delhi railway station in the capital along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Tuesday, lauded the austerity act.

Gandhi travelled in an air-conditioned chair car of the Swarn Shatabdi Express on Tuesday, a day after his mother Sonia Gandhi travelled in an economy class flight from New Delhi to Mumbai.

Rahul travelled from New Delhi to Ludhiana to inaugurate a four-day camp of young Congressmen.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has asked the Congress leaders to observe austerity to cut down expenditure in the wake of draught declared in parts of the country.

Earlier, the Congress Party had decided that its ministers and lawmakers would also take a 20 per cent cut in salaries.

The Congress Party has also urged the government to keep prices of essential commodities in check with special emphasis on oil seeds and pulses. (ANI)

Railways reduce tatkal charges from October 1

New Delhi, Aug 24 (ANI): The Ministry of Railways has decided to reduce the tatkal charges with effect from October 1.

The new tatkal charges will be at the rate of 10 per cent of basic fare for second class and 30 per cent of basic fare for all other classes subject to minimum and maximum charges for each class.

The minimum charge for second class (sitting) is 10 rupees and the maximum will be 15 rupees, for sleeper class and AC chair car the minimum has been fixed at 75 rupees and the maximum at 150 rupees, while for AC III and AC II tier classes the minimum will be 200 rupees with the maximum being 300 rupees.

Tatkal tickets will be issued for actual distance of travel, instead of end-to-end, subject to the distance restriction applicable to the train.

The same tatkal berth/seat may be booked in multiple legs till preparation of charts. At the time of preparation of charts, unutilized portion may be released to the General RAC/Waiting list passengers.

Tatkal facility will be introduced in executive class of Shatabdi Express trains also, by earmarking 10 per cent of the accommodation available that is five seats per coach The existing refund rules of tatkal tickets will remain unchanged.

Earlier, the Ministry of Railways had decided to reduce the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) under tatkal scheme from five days to two days (excluding the date of journey) for journey commencing with effect from August 1. (ANI)

Sikh organisations block rail traffic in Punjab over Tytler issue

Chandigarh/Ludhiana/ Mumbai/New Delhi, Apr 8 (ANI): Several Sikh organisations, protesting against CBI’s clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, blocked rail traffic in Punjab today.

According to official sources, activists of the Sant Samaj, which includes organisations like the Damdami Taksal and the Dal Khalsa, squatted on railway lines at Gyaspura village near Ludhiana, Beas and Dakoya in Jalandhar.

The Amritsar-Delhi Shatabdi Express, the Malwa Express and the Paschim Express were affected by the blockade, said Government Railway Police (GRP) sources.

Meanwhile, the Sikh Students Federation (SSF) has said that the incident has highlighted the fact that those responsible for the riots have not been punished so far.

“We believe that the act by journalist Jarnail Singh, who threw a shoe on Chidambaram was right. He threw it because even after 25 years, the ones who were responsible for the Sikh riots have not been punished and no justice has been given to Sikhs,” said Gurdeep Singh, SSF president in Ludhiana.

Sikh organisations in Mumbai also came out in support of Jarnail.

“The act may be different in different places. It may vary from person to person, but we are supporting the cause,” said Kulwant Singh, general secretary of the Guru Singh Sabha.

Throwing a shoe at someone is considered an insult in India.

A leading advocate who belongs to the Sikh community condemned the incident, saying legal action should be taken against the reporter.

“I condemn the act. It’s a crime and whosoever has done this act might it be because of aggression or sorrow. It’s not justified. Legal action must be taken against it,” said KTS Tulsi, a senior advocate in New Delhi.

The shoe missed Chidambaram, who leaned back to avoid it. He later smiled and asked security guards to take the reporter out of the room.

This was the latest incident of shoe-throwing as a mark of protest against political leaders, including former U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. (ANI)

AC summer special train to Dehradun starts its journey from Chandigarh

The AC summer special train to Dehradun started from Chandigarh on Wednesday with around 50 passengers on board. The Chandigarh-Dehradun all AC summer special train (0411/0412) has been introduced for the first time between Chandigarh and Dehradun for three months – April 1 to June 30, 2009.

The Northern Railways has started the train keeping in mind the rush of hill station travellers during summers.

Earlier, there was no direct link from the city to Dehradun or Haridwar. This train provides a shorter route to passengers from Chandigarh to Dehradun as compared to the Jan Shatabdi Express.

The maiden trip by the train with 10 AC coaches from Chandigarh to Dehradun was not encouraging for railway authorities as the train left the station with merely 50 passengers at its scheduled departure at 2 pm.

The other pair – Dehradun to Chandigarh – also reached the station around 12.50 pm with almost the similar number of passengers.

“Not many people know about this train. Also, the train being completely air conditioned caters to a selected category of passengers,” said one of the passengers boarding the train, Rakesh Kumar.

The train will run six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. The fare for AC I class is Rs 866, AC II is Rs 531 and Rs 390 is the fare for AC III class. The train (0412) halts at Ambala (2.50 pm), Saharanpur (4.10 pm), Rourkie (4.42 pm), Haridwar (6.10 pm) and reaches Dehradun at 8.15 pm.

AC summer special train to Dehradun starts its journey from Chandigarh

The AC summer special train to Dehradun started from Chandigarh on Wednesday with around 50 passengers on board. The Chandigarh-Dehradun all AC summer special train (0411/0412) has been introduced for the first time between Chandigarh and Dehradun for three months – April 1 to June 30, 2009.

The Northern Railways has started the train keeping in mind the rush of hill station travellers during summers.

Earlier, there was no direct link from the city to Dehradun or Haridwar. This train provides a shorter route to passengers from Chandigarh to Dehradun as compared to the Jan Shatabdi Express.

The maiden trip by the train with 10 AC coaches from Chandigarh to Dehradun was not encouraging for railway authorities as the train left the station with merely 50 passengers at its scheduled departure at 2 pm.

The other pair – Dehradun to Chandigarh – also reached the station around 12.50 pm with almost the similar number of passengers.

“Not many people know about this train. Also, the train being completely air conditioned caters to a selected category of passengers,” said one of the passengers boarding the train, Rakesh Kumar.

The train will run six days a week from Tuesday to Sunday. The fare for AC I class is Rs 866, AC II is Rs 531 and Rs 390 is the fare for AC III class. The train (0412) halts at Ambala (2.50 pm), Saharanpur (4.10 pm), Rourkie (4.42 pm), Haridwar (6.10 pm) and reaches Dehradun at 8.15 pm.

Express News Service

43 new trains introduced in Interim Railway Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, Feb 13 (ANI): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad while presenting the Interim Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, announced the introduction of 43 new trains which include four Garib Raths.

These are:

- Bilaspur-Tirunelveli via Thiruvananthapuram Express (Weekly)

- Ranchi-Jaynagar Express (Tri-Weekly)

- Secunderabad-Manuguru Superfast (Daily)

- Mumbai-Karwar Superfast (Tri-weekly)

- Bhopal-Lucknow Junction Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Durg-Jaipur Express (Weekly)

- Chhatrapati Sahu terminal (Kolhapur)-Dhanbad Link Service via Parasnath (Weekly)

- Sengottai-Erode Passenger (Daily)

- Dibrugarh Town-Chandigarh Express (Weekly)

- Ajmer-Bhagalpur via Delhi Garib Rath Express (Bi-Weekly)

- Nizamuddin-Bangalore via Kacheguda Rajdhani Express (Tri-weekly)

- Barauni-Delhi Jan Sadharan Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Varanasi Superfast (Daily)

- Mysore-Yesvantpur Express (Daily)

- Jamalpur-Gaya Passenger

- Korapur-Rourkela Express via Rayagada (Daily)

- Agra-Ajmer Superfast (Daily)

- Sitamarhi-Patna Link Service (Daily)

- Tiruchchirapalli-Madurai Express (Daily)

- Mumbai-Bikaner Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Jaynagar-Ajmer Link Service (Bi-weekly)

- Agra-Lucknow Junction Shatabdi Express (Daily)

- Gandhidham-Kolkata Superfast (Weekly)

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Mumbai-Tirunelveli Superfast via Thiruvananthapuram (Bi-weekly)

- Jammu Tawi-Darbhanga Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Saharsa-Delhi Express via Patna (Weekly)

- Gwalior-Bhopal Intercity Express via Guna (5 days a week)

- Coimbatore-Tuticorin Link Service (Daily)

- Howrah-Haridwar Superfast (5 days a week)

- Machhalipatnam-Mumbai Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast (Daily)

- Gorakhpur-Mumbai Superfast (Daily)

- Jhajha-Patna MEMU

- New Delhi-Palwal MEMU

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Muzaffarpur (Weekly)

- Veraval-Mumbai Link Service (Daily)

- Ranchi-Patna Jan Shatabdi (Daily)

- Jhansi-Chhindwara Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Jodhpur Express (Weekly)

- Hajipur-Bagaha Link Service

- Howrah-Delhi Link Service via Azimganj-Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Sitamarhi-Delhi Garib Rath Express via Patna (Weekly) (ANI)

43 new trains introduced in Interim Railway Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, Feb 13 (ANI): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad while presenting the Interim Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, announced the introduction of 43 new trains which include four Garib Raths.

These are:

- Bilaspur-Tirunelveli via Thiruvananthapuram Express (Weekly)

- Ranchi-Jaynagar Express (Tri-Weekly)

- Secunderabad-Manuguru Superfast (Daily)

- Mumbai-Karwar Superfast (Tri-weekly)

- Bhopal-Lucknow Junction Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Durg-Jaipur Express (Weekly)

- Chhatrapati Sahu terminal (Kolhapur)-Dhanbad Link Service via Parasnath (Weekly)

- Sengottai-Erode Passenger (Daily)

- Dibrugarh Town-Chandigarh Express (Weekly)

- Ajmer-Bhagalpur via Delhi Garib Rath Express (Bi-Weekly)

- Nizamuddin-Bangalore via Kacheguda Rajdhani Express (Tri-weekly)

- Barauni-Delhi Jan Sadharan Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Varanasi Superfast (Daily)

- Mysore-Yesvantpur Express (Daily)

- Jamalpur-Gaya Passenger

- Korapur-Rourkela Express via Rayagada (Daily)

- Agra-Ajmer Superfast (Daily)

- Sitamarhi-Patna Link Service (Daily)

- Tiruchchirapalli-Madurai Express (Daily)

- Mumbai-Bikaner Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Jaynagar-Ajmer Link Service (Bi-weekly)

- Agra-Lucknow Junction Shatabdi Express (Daily)

- Gandhidham-Kolkata Superfast (Weekly)

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Mumbai-Tirunelveli Superfast via Thiruvananthapuram (Bi-weekly)

- Jammu Tawi-Darbhanga Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Saharsa-Delhi Express via Patna (Weekly)

- Gwalior-Bhopal Intercity Express via Guna (5 days a week)

- Coimbatore-Tuticorin Link Service (Daily)

- Howrah-Haridwar Superfast (5 days a week)

- Machhalipatnam-Mumbai Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast (Daily)

- Gorakhpur-Mumbai Superfast (Daily)

- Jhajha-Patna MEMU

- New Delhi-Palwal MEMU

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Muzaffarpur (Weekly)

- Veraval-Mumbai Link Service (Daily)

- Ranchi-Patna Jan Shatabdi (Daily)

- Jhansi-Chhindwara Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Jodhpur Express (Weekly)

- Hajipur-Bagaha Link Service

- Howrah-Delhi Link Service via Azimganj-Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Sitamarhi-Delhi Garib Rath Express via Patna (Weekly) (ANI)

43 new trains introduced in Interim Railway Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, Feb 13 (ANI): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad while presenting the Interim Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, announced the introduction of 43 new trains which include four Garib Raths.

These are:

- Bilaspur-Tirunelveli via Thiruvananthapuram Express (Weekly)

- Ranchi-Jaynagar Express (Tri-Weekly)

- Secunderabad-Manuguru Superfast (Daily)

- Mumbai-Karwar Superfast (Tri-weekly)

- Bhopal-Lucknow Junction Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Durg-Jaipur Express (Weekly)

- Chhatrapati Sahu terminal (Kolhapur)-Dhanbad Link Service via Parasnath (Weekly)

- Sengottai-Erode Passenger (Daily)

- Dibrugarh Town-Chandigarh Express (Weekly)

- Ajmer-Bhagalpur via Delhi Garib Rath Express (Bi-Weekly)

- Nizamuddin-Bangalore via Kacheguda Rajdhani Express (Tri-weekly)

- Barauni-Delhi Jan Sadharan Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Varanasi Superfast (Daily)

- Mysore-Yesvantpur Express (Daily)

- Jamalpur-Gaya Passenger

- Korapur-Rourkela Express via Rayagada (Daily)

- Agra-Ajmer Superfast (Daily)

- Sitamarhi-Patna Link Service (Daily)

- Tiruchchirapalli-Madurai Express (Daily)

- Mumbai-Bikaner Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Jaynagar-Ajmer Link Service (Bi-weekly)

- Agra-Lucknow Junction Shatabdi Express (Daily)

- Gandhidham-Kolkata Superfast (Weekly)

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Mumbai-Tirunelveli Superfast via Thiruvananthapuram (Bi-weekly)

- Jammu Tawi-Darbhanga Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Saharsa-Delhi Express via Patna (Weekly)

- Gwalior-Bhopal Intercity Express via Guna (5 days a week)

- Coimbatore-Tuticorin Link Service (Daily)

- Howrah-Haridwar Superfast (5 days a week)

- Machhalipatnam-Mumbai Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast (Daily)

- Gorakhpur-Mumbai Superfast (Daily)

- Jhajha-Patna MEMU

- New Delhi-Palwal MEMU

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Muzaffarpur (Weekly)

- Veraval-Mumbai Link Service (Daily)

- Ranchi-Patna Jan Shatabdi (Daily)

- Jhansi-Chhindwara Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Jodhpur Express (Weekly)

- Hajipur-Bagaha Link Service

- Howrah-Delhi Link Service via Azimganj-Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Sitamarhi-Delhi Garib Rath Express via Patna (Weekly) (ANI)

43 new trains introduced in Interim Railway Budget 2009-10

New Delhi, Feb 13 (ANI): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad while presenting the Interim Railway Budget 2009-10 in the Lok Sabha today, announced the introduction of 43 new trains which include four Garib Raths.

These are:

- Bilaspur-Tirunelveli via Thiruvananthapuram Express (Weekly)

- Ranchi-Jaynagar Express (Tri-Weekly)

- Secunderabad-Manuguru Superfast (Daily)

- Mumbai-Karwar Superfast (Tri-weekly)

- Bhopal-Lucknow Junction Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Durg-Jaipur Express (Weekly)

- Chhatrapati Sahu terminal (Kolhapur)-Dhanbad Link Service via Parasnath (Weekly)

- Sengottai-Erode Passenger (Daily)

- Dibrugarh Town-Chandigarh Express (Weekly)

- Ajmer-Bhagalpur via Delhi Garib Rath Express (Bi-Weekly)

- Nizamuddin-Bangalore via Kacheguda Rajdhani Express (Tri-weekly)

- Barauni-Delhi Jan Sadharan Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Varanasi Superfast (Daily)

- Mysore-Yesvantpur Express (Daily)

- Jamalpur-Gaya Passenger

- Korapur-Rourkela Express via Rayagada (Daily)

- Agra-Ajmer Superfast (Daily)

- Sitamarhi-Patna Link Service (Daily)

- Tiruchchirapalli-Madurai Express (Daily)

- Mumbai-Bikaner Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Jaynagar-Ajmer Link Service (Bi-weekly)

- Agra-Lucknow Junction Shatabdi Express (Daily)

- Gandhidham-Kolkata Superfast (Weekly)

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Mumbai-Tirunelveli Superfast via Thiruvananthapuram (Bi-weekly)

- Jammu Tawi-Darbhanga Garib Rath Express (Weekly)

- Saharsa-Delhi Express via Patna (Weekly)

- Gwalior-Bhopal Intercity Express via Guna (5 days a week)

- Coimbatore-Tuticorin Link Service (Daily)

- Howrah-Haridwar Superfast (5 days a week)

- Machhalipatnam-Mumbai Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Varanasi-Jammu Tawi Superfast (Daily)

- Gorakhpur-Mumbai Superfast (Daily)

- Jhajha-Patna MEMU

- New Delhi-Palwal MEMU

- New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express via Muzaffarpur (Weekly)

- Veraval-Mumbai Link Service (Daily)

- Ranchi-Patna Jan Shatabdi (Daily)

- Jhansi-Chhindwara Superfast (Bi-weekly)

- Mumbai-Jodhpur Express (Weekly)

- Hajipur-Bagaha Link Service

- Howrah-Delhi Link Service via Azimganj-Bhagalpur (Weekly)

- Sitamarhi-Delhi Garib Rath Express via Patna (Weekly) (ANI)