RailEnquiry

Kokrajhar : Several long-distance trains, including the Rajdhani Express, were stranded for over seven hours during a 12-hour railway blockade called by the Peoples' Joint Action Committee for Boroland Movement to demand a separate Bodoland state. Thousands of protesters with banners and placards shouted slogans in support of the creation of Bodoland and blocked the railway tracks at Kokrajhar, Gossaigaon and Rangia from 5am to noon before they courted arrest. The Down Rajdhani Express was stranded at Rangia junction while the Up Saraighat Express was stranded at New Alipurduar. The Up Dadar Express was stationed at Kamakyaguri station, the Up Sampark Kranti Express was halted at Alipurduar Junction, the Up Ernakulam Express was stranded at New Cooch Behar and the Up Lumding Inter-city Express was stranded at Fakiragram Junction. Many passengers were stranded on the platforms, waiting for train services to resume. "I was supposed to travel to Delhi by the Rajdhani for an important programme there. I hope I will be able to reach in time. Do you know when the blockade will end?" a man in his forties asked. Many students from the area were seen waiting for the train since morning. The peoples' forum, comprising 45 organisations, launched the agitation to intensify its demand for Bodoland. Gangadhar Ramchiary, an adviser to the forum, said it wanted a political solution within the Constitution. He said the forum would proceed with the movement for the separate state in a peaceful, democratic and non-violent way. "The demand for a Bodoland state is not against any community and should not be misunderstood. The indigenous people have every right to stay within the proposed Bodoland state. The people should not have any apprehensions about the demand," he said. "We reiterate that nothing short of a separate state is acceptable to us. Only a separate state of Bodoland can fulfil our political aspiration and only then the safety and security of all communities and their all-round development can be ascertained." "On the basis of history, ethnic identities, language and culture and also on the basis of provisions under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, we have every right to be entitled to a separate state. The Union government should do the needful through peace talks with the NDFB (P) by granting statehood, which is a long pending demand of the Bodos," he said.