Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Dec 27 (UNI) The Jalna police have detained about 500 activists, belonging to the saffron brigade, today when they tried to enter the Nanded-Amritsar Sachkhand Express to go to Delhi to attend the 'Shakti Pradarshan' organised by the Ramsetu Raksha Manch (RMS) on December 30.

The police also resorted to lathicharge to control the mob in Jalna, about 65 km from, here.

According to railway sources, the problem started when some of the activists forced their entry into the reserved bogies. The passengers who were on their way to Amritsar and other places from Nanded, objected and registered their protest with the Jalna railway authorities. The Jalna police reached the station to help the railway police control the situation.

The sources said about 500 of the activists were detained and later released. This resulted into delay in the railways passing through the Jalna railway station.

According to railway sources here, following the Jalna incident they alerted the city police who instantly swung into action.

However, the situation at the Aurangabad railway station was peaceful and even the VHP activists cooperated.

According to VHP sources, at least 20,000 activists from different parts of Marathwada and surrounding districts were expected to attend the 'Shakti pradarshan' in Delhi on December 30, in connection with the Rameshwaram Ram Setu Raksha movement.

UNI