GT Express halted for over an hour at Narmadapuram station as police conduct search
Bhopal : On Sunday afternoon, police stopped the GT Express at Narmadapuram railway station, detaining farmers from Tamil Nadu who were en route to Delhi. The farmers protested and created a commotion at the station, causing the train to remain stationary for over an hour. Subsequently, the police took the farmers into custody. More than 65 farmers were transported from the railway station to an undisclosed location in three buses.
City Magistrate Asmaram Chiraman stated that there was information suggesting that some officials from the farmers’ organization were hiding in the GT Express. They received a message to disembark the officials and accommodate them at Shrikunj Garden, prompting the police to stop the train for a search. Further details were not disclosed.
It was learned that Ayyakannu, president of the National South Indian River Interlinking Association of Tamil Nadu, along with 114 members and officials, including 15 women, were heading to Delhi. The farmers were likely planning a protest in Delhi, demanding water from the Cauvery River for Tamil Nadu. Delhi police had been tracking them from Chennai based on this input. The farmers departed for Delhi on July 27 aboard the GT Express (12615).
Based on the input from Delhi, all members were disembarked from the train in Narmadapuram on Sunday afternoon. The police thoroughly searched the train, which remained at the station for approximately 70 minutes. The farmers and leaders protested against the police action. Ayyakannu questioned the legality of the detention, stating that the police were citing law and order concerns but had not clarified any specific violations. He asserted that the association members wished to file a complaint at the police station instead of being taken into custody.
It’s notable that there has been ongoing tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of Cauvery River water. On July 16, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin convened an all-party meeting, passing a resolution condemning the Karnataka government for releasing insufficient water from the Cauvery River.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.