LAHORE (Web Desk) – Indian authorities Thursday stopped Samjhauta Express train from entering into their territory on verbal directives of station commander.
57 Pakistani passengers were offloaded at Wagah Border after the Indian officials did not give clearance the train to cross the border.
Pakistani officials said the Indian station commander declared the ongoing protests in India as “harmful” for Pakistani passengers.
Earlier on Thursday, Indian Railways officials had requested Pakistan railways that there has been a protest being held by the Indian farmers and may be some violent protesters can attack the train as well so its better for train not to cross the border.
The protesters may set the train on fire, the Indian officials feared.
2007 Bombings
The Samjhauta Express – commonly called the Friendship Express – is a twice-weekly train that runs between Delhi and Attari in India and Lahore in Pakistan. The word samjhauta means “agreement”,”accord” and “compromise” in both Hindi and Urdu.
In the early hours of 19 February 2007, 68 people (mostly Pakistani civilians and a few Indian military guarding the train) were killed and scores more injured in a terrorist attack on the Samjhauta Express. The attack occurred at Diwana station near the Indian city of Panipat, Haryana.
Officials found evidence of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and flammable material, including three unexploded IEDs. The National Investigation Agency has stated that the blasts were masterminded by Swami Aseemanand, a Hindu religious leader. Swami Aseemanand born as Jatin Chatterjee in West Bengal, joined the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in 1978.
