Train services suspended again in Kashmir

Separatist alliance Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), comprising Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Mohammad Yaseen Malik, had also called for protests after Friday prayers in the Kashmir valley against the Shopian and Ganderbal killings.

"Train service was again suspended on Friday in the Kashmir valley," a senior railway official told UNI.

It may be noted that the train service resumed on Thursday after it remained suspended for four days.

Train service was suspended after four civilians were killed in south Kashmir and another in Ganderbal in central valley and over 40 others were injured in security force action on demonstrators who took to streets after the killing of 13 militants, including top commanders in three different encounters on Sunday.

 He said a fresh directive was received last night to suspend all trains in the valley for security reasons.

"No train will run on Badgam-Srinagar-Anantnag-Qazigun in south Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region. Similarly, no train will chug on Srinagar-Badgam to Baramulla in north Kashmir,' the official said. Railways has no role in it as a fresh advisory was received last night to suspend the train service again, he said, adding "we are acting on the advice of police."

Railways suffered major damage in the past during demonstrations in the valley, where last year the service remained suspended for more than 50 times, partially or fully due to strike and demonstrations.

In 2016 train service remained suspended for six months due to summer unrest in the valley.