Train service again suspended in Kashmir for security reasons

Srinagar, Sep 15: Train service has again been suspended for security reasons in the Kashmir valley, where Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) chief Abu Ismail and his associate Abu Qasim were killed in an encounter with security forces on the outskirts of Srinagar yesterday. 'We have suspended all train runs today,' a senior Railway official told UNI. He said therefore there will be no train service between Srinagar-Badgam in the central Kashmir and Baramulla in north. Similarly, no train will chug on Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigund in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region. The official said train service is being suspended or resumed only on the advice of local authorities and police. 'We got an advisory last night to suspend the train service today for the security and safety of railway property and passengers,' he added. However, the daily travelers alleged that besides financial loss to railways, suspension of trains are putting the people to hardship. Despite claiming that thousands of security forces and railway police are being deployed for the protection, trains are being suspended more often in the valley, said a businessman Abdul Hamid , a daily passenger travelling to Anantnag from Srinagar. Hundreds of passengers, who had arrived at different railway stations, had to use other mode of transport to reach their destination. There was no strike call from any separatist organisation today and suspension of train service was unjustified, they said. However, people claimed that train service besides being safe is also very cheap and fast as compared to other mode of transport in the valley, where frequent traffic jam is a daily routine. Moreover, there is no fixed rate for cabs and other transport, alleged another daily passenger Ghulam Rasool. The service was frequently suspended in August and this month too for security reasons. Last year, the rail service remained suspended for about six months due to summer unrest. UNI