Train service in south Kashmir suspended again for security reasons

However, all trains will chug in north Kashmir as per schedule, a railway official told UNI this morning.

He said an advisory was received from police last night to suspend train service between Badgam-Srinagar in the central Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu region via Anantnag and Qazigund in south. Therefore, he said, no train will run on this track and all trains have been cancelled. Train service on this track was resumed only yesterday after remaining suspended for security reasons on January 8.

Large number of passengers, who had arrived at different railway stations in Srinagar and south Kashmir, were disappointed after being informed about the cancellation of all trains today. Train service has become very popular in the Kashmir valley, which is being considered safe, cheap and fast against other mode of transport service.

"Today, we suspended train service as authorities have apprehension of demonstration in south Kashmir, where a youth was killed after security forces opened fire to disperse stone pelting demonstrators at Redwani in Kulgam district yesterday," the official said.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed deep anguish over the killing of a youth namely Khalid Hussain Dar of Redwani Payeen of tehsil Qaimoh of Kulgam district.

The Chief Minister has directed the district administration to conduct a probe to know the reasons of the killing and come up with a report at the earliest.

Accordingly, the Deputy Commissioner, Kulgam, Talat Parvez has appointed Additional District Development Commissioner, Kulgam as the inquiry officer to ascertain the facts about the death of the said youth. He has been asked to submit a report within two weeks.