Title - Farmers' protest brings rail traffic to a halt

Amritsar: Various farmer and labour organisations today resorted to rail and road blockade at different points in Amritsar to lodge their protest against the delay in procurement of paddy as well as hike in diesel prices and FDI in retail sector.Scores of activists of these outfits hit the rail track at Rayya, near Amritsar, blocking the rail traffic for around three hours between 1 pm and 4 pm, besides resorting to road blockade at Attari, Rayya, Ajnala, Majitha, Beas and Chogawan areas of the district.BKU (Ugrahan) general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan said shops and commercial establishments remained closed during their bandh call in 78 towns.
Bathinda: Members of 17 Kisan Mazdoor Organisations blocked the Bathinda-Rampura-Barnala road for over four hours. The farmers criticised the SAD-BJP government for imposing unnecessary penalties and increasing the power tariff.

Tarn Taran: The Punjab Bandh evoked mixed response in the border district, though a large number of farmers and other workers participated in protests at different places.

Moga: Agitating farmers blocked rail traffic on the outskirts of Moga, forcing the railway authorities to halt the trains at Ludhiana and Ferozepur stations.

Sangrur: A large number of activists of various farmer bodies blocked rail traffic by staging a dharna on the railway level crossing at Sunam, 13 km from here. The dharna was staged from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Jalandhar: A number of trains were hit in various parts.