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Rail blocked at Chautara

By AT Kokrajhar Bureau |

Rail services were disrupted for six hours due to blockade at Chautara station in Kokrajhar district on Tuesdsy demanding grant of Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the Koch Rajbongshis and create separate Kamatapur state within Indian constitution.

The All Koch Rajbongshi Students Union (AKRSU) blockaded the railway for 12 hours beginning from 5 am in the morning which disrupted rail services along the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Thousands of student activists,peoples from from all walks of life of the Koch Rajbongshi community took part the blockade with banner, placards and shouted slogans demanding early granting of ST status, creation of Kamatapur state.

At least two Lumding intercity trains and Bongaigaon-NJP passenger train were cancelled for the strike. Several long distance trains were stranded at various stations in the region, which included Dibrugargh-Delhi down Rajdhani express halted at New Bongaigaon, Capital express, Bangalore express at Bongaigaon, Saraighat express up at Gossaigaon on the day.

Although Lower Assam Commissioner Ahmed Hussain hold a meeting with AKRSU leaders in the presence of Bibekananda Choudhury, Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar at Chautara station by 8.30 am in the morning to appealing withdraw the blockade, yet the agitators declined the appeals .

Later, the blockade was reduced to six hours from 12 hours after getting letter from state government to hold state level talk to be held on November 17 in Guwahati. Rail services, however resumes after 11.30 am. Pradip Roy, president of the AKRSU declares the reduce of blockade for six hours and lifted the blockade at 11 am. He said that students union and Koch Rajbongshi community have been demanding ST status since long years, yet government never taking bold step to solve Koch Rajbongshi issue and problems. He has slammed BJP led NDA government at Centre and state for not initiating to solve the Koch Rajbongshi issues that have been pending in the state. He said that the blockade was lifted after six hours to the respect of passenger and patients of the trains.

Roy demanded that ST status to the Koch Rajbongshi community, creation of Kamatapur state should be solved through political dialogue as soon possible. He has warned to take vigorous mass movement if their demands are not meet by December next.

Biswajit Roy, adviser of AKRSU demanded scheduling issue and Kamatapur state should be solved through political level involving Prime Minister, Home Minister as soon as possible. He has criticized BJP party for failing fulfilling of promises that kept during 2014 parliamentary elections in the state. Bibekananda Choudhury, Deputy Commissioner, Kokrajhar said that the blockade was lifted by 10.45 am after holding meeting with students union. Government assures promises to holding peace talk over the issues that demanded from the students union and community organizations, he said.

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Assam Times Kokrajhar bureau office, BTAD.
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