Daylife/AP Photo used by permission
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Angry protesters in northern India set fire to a train and a railway station in protest at a move not to stop at remote stations, railway police say.
About 200 protesters attacked Khusrupur station in Bihar, It is not clear if anyone was injured. Local television channels showed flames and smoke billowing out of the burning train and stick-wielding protesters standing nearby.
Residents are said to have been incensed after watching the Patna-Calcutta train speed by without stopping.
“That train did not stop there, so they went berserk and attacked the Dhanapur intercity express,” senior railway police officer Rajender Singh told the Associated Press
New Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said the protests were “unfortunate”.
“Unfortunate”? You’ve got to be kidding. It’s fracking anarchy.
She said she was unaware of where the order not to stop at certain stations had come from. Ms Banerjee said an inquiry would be held to establish who was behind the order…
Former railway minister Laloo Yadav is from Bihar and railway officials say he had many major trains halting at dozens of smaller stations during his tenure.
Railway ministers in India often reward their constituencies by launching new trains or halting existing trains at existing stations in their area.
