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)