Mob opposing abattoir block rail traffic

PUNE: The rail traffic on the Pune-Lonavla section was hampered for nearly three hours after people jumped on the tracks in Pimpri to oppose the opening of a temporary slaughter house near the Pimpri railway station.
The police had to use tear gas shells and resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the mob. There was heavy police security at the railway station as well in Pimprigaon area.Shops remained closed for most part of the day.
Tension started building since morning after residents came to know that the abattoir has opened. A mob stopped a Lonavla-bound local train at the Pimpri station around 1 pm. They raised slogans demanding closure of the facility. Policemen were deployed on roads that lead to the railway station as a precautionary measure. A team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) too was called at the station. Meanwhile, police tried to convince the agitators to vacate the premises but they refused to do so without a written assurance from PCMC higher authorities that the slaughterhouse will be closed.
The standoff continued till 2.45 pm when the police finally issued a warning on a public address system that the agitators should vacate the station immediately. They fired tear gas shells to disperse the mob, which started throwing stones. Police then had to resort to mild lathicharge. Train traffic resumed only after 3.15 pm.
Speaking to TOI, a railway official said that the traffic on both tracks was affected between 12.50 pm and 3 pm. Two local trains had to be cancelled.
Municipal commissioner Rajiv Jadhav said the PCMC had given temporary permission for slaughtering animals at the site. "This permission was granted after getting the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's nod. State doctors are monitoring the slaughtering of animals. We are taking all precautions to avoid any pollution and are adhering by all MPCB and government norms," he said.
Rajendra Mane, DCP, zone III, said, "On Sunday night, the PCMC gave permission to operate the temporary slaughterhouse for three days. SRPF and police personnel from crime branch, striking force and policemen from various police stations had been deployed in Pimpri.''