Title - Blockade disrupts trains in BTC area

KOKRAJHAR: The 12-hour railway blockade called by the People's Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement (PJACBM) seeking a separate Bodoland state disrupted train services in the BTC area on Friday.The PJACBM, an umbrella platform of different organizations, is demanding early creation of a separate state of Boroland by carving certain portions from Assam.Northeast Frontier Railway officials said movement of trains was disrupted till 11 am and many trains were stopped at different stations. They added that protesters squatted on the tracks. He said the timings of many trains were affected.Hundreds PJACBM supporters blocked the railway tracks at Kokrajhar railway station. Chief convener of the committee, Gongadhar Ramchiary, president of Kokrajhar district UDPF Montri Brahma Choudhury and former chief organizing secretary of Peace Forum Sarbeswar Basumatary led the blockade in Kokrajhar.All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) activists also blocked the train movement at Gossaigaon and Kokrajhar. tnnThousands of PJACBM supporters sat on the tracks at Kokrajhar railway station, shouting slogans for early creation of a separate state of Boroland. Later, they courted arrest for violating Section 144 CrPC. The blockade continued till 12 noon.