Train set afire as Kapu stir for reservation turns violent in AP

However, timely intervention of railway officials ensured that no passenger suffered injuries in the incident, said Vijayawada Station Manager N Suresh Babu. Some protesters pelted stones on the moving train even as the police tried to hold them back.

All trains between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam and vehicular traffic on the Chennai-Kolkata national highway came to a halt as thousands of protesters squatted on the tracks and the highway.

The protestors set afire Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam Ratnachal Express near Tuni, forcing railway authorities to fully or partially cancel or divert trains. The statement said the protestors sat on the track, climbed on the train and also damaged hose pipes and glass fittings of the locomotive. They attacked the engine and set afire eight bogies after ordering passengers to get down.

At the same time, a group of protesters proceeded to the Tuni rural police station and set on fire the building and several police vehicles parked in the compound.

With situation going out of control, additional forces were rushed to the region.

In view of the agitation, at least 15 passenger trains running on the Vijayawada-Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam section of Vijayawada division have been regulated.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had earlier promised Backward Class status to Kapu community if he was chosen to power.

“Chandrababu is exclusively responsible for the present situation as he has driven Kapus to streets in frustration by giving them false promises of inclusion in the BC category”.

Trouble began soon after Padmanabham announced at the public meeting that they will not tolerate any further delay.

Naidu was quoted in media saying: “I am fully committed to Kapu reservation but I can’t issue government order that won’t stand scrutiny in court, that can’t be implemented”.

Naidu said he is reviewing (the situation) with the officials. Additional RPF personnel have been deployed to provide security to railway passengers.