Keshod councillor and Chairman of the APMC yard-Keshod, Baghubhai Vegad, said: “We have listed the name of the residents and have decided that in case the Mumbai- bound train does not start on January 26, we, along with Shashikant Dave, will jump before a locomotive at the Junagadh railway station".

He said: "The people of the district desperately need a direct train to Mumbai from Veraval. Our repeated demand and requests to the railway authorities have fallen on deaf ears. On January 26, we will go to the Junagadh railway station and after saluting the national flag, will sacrifice ourselves for the cause.”

A week earlier, Dave had made the same announcement. Considering the seriousness of the warning, Dave was arrested on Friday and released on bail the same day.

Apart from individuals, several social organisations and chamber of commerce and industries have declared their support to Dave.

The Junagadh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) has also written a letter to Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai Rathwa in this regard and has asked him to take a decision in the matter.

In its letter dated December 31, JCCI had asked Rathwa to take a positive decision immediately. JCCI has also declared its full support to Dave and has said that Junagadh based trade and business organisations are with him.

B J Desai, Honorary secretary, JCCI, said: “Since the last four years, JCCI has written 28 letters to the Railway authorities including Railway ministers, but no action has been taken till today.”