‘Rail roko’ protests have no impact on train services

The call for a nationwide ‘rail roko’ campaign by farmers’ leaders in Delhi against the Centre’s farm laws evoked a mixed response in Karnataka on Thursday. In Bengaluru, the protest was low key, but there was a good turnout of protesters in Raichur, Belagavi, and Davangere. The nationwide protest to demand the repeal of the three farm laws had no impact on train services in the State. The Bengaluru police as well as their counterparts in places such as Mysuru and Belagavi detained protesters even before they could enter the stations. The Railway Police Force, too, were out in full force to prevent protesters from entering stations. At Yeshwantpur railway station, farmers’ leader Kurubur Shanthakumar and others were detained by the police. Mr Shanthakumar had travelled from Mysuru to Yeshwantpur by train to take part in the protest, but was escorted out of the station.