The protestors, who were demanding restoration of train halts at the Hathras Road railway station, forced the passengers out of the compartments of Mahananda Express and then set it ablaze. They also set afire the railway station.
Train halts at the 100-year-old Hathras station had been abolished after the metre gauge line was converted to broad gauge line a few months ago.
The local residents had been staging a dharna at the Hathras railway station to press for their demand since the past one week. On Wednesday morning, they squatted on the tracks to stop movement of trains prompting a lathi charge by the police.
Angered over the lathi charge, the mob turned violent and indulged in heavy stone pelting. The local villagers also joined in the agitation and targeted the police.
The police used canes and fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob. According to Superintendent of Police, S R S Aditya, more than two dozen persons have been arrested in connection with the violence.
(Published 30 September 2009, 09:33 IST)
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