PS Walia, Kapurthala
October 18: several hundred of agitating farmers and farm labours today stopped Somnath Express train bound for Jammu for nearly one and half hour at Sultanpurlodhi railway station by staging dharna at railway track in protest against the distress purchase of paddy and farmers forced to sell it below MSP rates .
The dharna which started at 12 noon was lifted after one and half hour following assurance given by Distrct administration that paddy would be purchase at MSP rates and lifting of paddy would be accelerated .
The train resumed its journey after blockade was lifted said Superientendent of police Sarabjit Singh Rai who participated in the negotiations with the agitators.
The train reached at Kapurthala railway station 16:46 hrs than its scheduled time of 15:20 hrs Said railway station Master Vipin kumar
The protestors led by Kissan labour sangarsh committee Distrct president Sarwan Singh alleged that farmers had to sell their produce less than MSP rates and farmers are being looted in the Mandis at Sultanpurlodhi.
They further alleged that paddy lifting from Mandis is very slow and being piled up as there is no storage space.
