Agnipath Protests: Bharat Bandh Fails To Evoke Much Response, Over 600 Trains Cancelled | Key Points

Amid protests, the Railways cancelled 559 trains including 208 mail/express trains and 379 passenger trains, a statement issued by Railways stated. 

Security was beefed up in several states in view of call for Bharat Bandh agaisnt Agnipath scheme, Railways cancelled 559 trains.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The 'Bharat bandh' called to protest against the Agnipath military recruitment scheme failed to evoke much response across the country even though rail traffic was affected, with Indian Railways cancelling over 600 trains on Monday. The protests appeared to taper off in many states as the authorities stepped up security and imposed curbs after days of unrest.

While the 'Bharat Bandh' call choked traffic on several roads in the national capital, no impact was seen in the city's markets. Amid the upheaval, the Army issued a notification for compulsory online registration of all Agnipath job aspirants from July.

The three service chiefs are scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday to brief him about the Agnipath recruitment scheme, reported NDTV. 

Agnipath Scheme Protests: Here Are The Latest Updates

• Over 600 trains were cancelled on Monday amid protests over Agnipath scheme. Of the 612 trains affected, 602 trains were cancelled, including 223 mail and express trains and 379 passengers trains, the Railways said in a statement. Four mail and express trains and six passenger trains were partially cancelled. The worst-affected zone was the East Central Railway.
• The Delhi Police had tightened security, in view of the bandh call, across the national capital and its bordering areas and warned of strict action against those trying to disrupt the law and order situation
• Security was tightened in states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Assam and Rajasthan and prohibitory orders were imposed in some districts to thwart possible protests and violence during the strike.
• Heavy deployment of police force were present at railway stations, including those in Ambala, Rewari and Sonipat in Haryana and Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar in Punjab to prevent any untoward incident.
• Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Prashant Kumar said, "There has been no impact of the Bharat Bandh call anywhere in the state." 
• In Jharkhand, more than 5000 security personnel were deployed and schools remained shut across the state in view of the bandh call.
• Internet services remained suspended in 17 out of 38 districts in Bihar and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces continued in places.
• Farmers' collective Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has decided to hold a nationwide protest against the Centre's Agnipath military recruitment scheme on June 24, its leader Rakesh Tikait announced
• Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, however, questioned the prime minister's "silence" on the Agnipath issue.
• Long lines of traffic jams  were seen at Delhi's borders, including the entry point from Noida via DND, Chilla border, Delhi-Gurugram expressway and Ghazipur.
• Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) blocked railway tracks at Delhi’s Shivaji Bridge railway station in protests against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioning Rahul Gandhi and Agnipath scheme. Police and security personnel later cleared the track.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)