Hyderabad: Petrol from parked cars fuelled arson

HYDERABAD: Many youths involved in the protest against the Agnipath scheme used petrol from parked vehicles at the Secunderabad Railway Station while carrying out arson.
While some protesters did buy fuel from petrol bunks, others allegedly visited a parking lot and tapped petrol from parked vehicles. Using this fuel, agitators set ablaze four train bogies.
“The accused took petrol in bottles from parked motorcycles at the railway station. We are still investigating to find out more about the planning and execution,” a source with the Railway police told TOI. There are three different parking lots in Secunderabad Railway station for two-wheelers.
Police said that since June 16, efforts were being made to mobilise Bharat bandh on June 20. From some of the accused, police recovered messages — some written in Hindi — to spread the word on social media about the bandh against the implementation of Agnipath scheme.
Some of the messages said: “Bharat bandh on June 20. We dont want TOD (tour of duty). Restore previous recruitment. Who ever is Army lover, share this message to atleast 10 members and on social media too”, “Government should know, what is the power of youth”.
Railway police are mulling transferring the case related to the violence at Secunderabad Railway Station to Hyderabad police for further investigation on the grounds that they lack resources. Already, the Hyderabad police has been assisting Railway police in picking up accused and questioning them.
In this case, Railway police declared 56 persons as accused. Among them, 46 persons have already arrested. Army aspirants gathered at Secunderabad after coordinating through Whatsapp groups. Some even carried hammers in their bags.