Railway blockade in Rangia; train movement affecting

RANGIA: A two-hour railway blockade was observed today by the SFI and DYFI members in lower Assam's Rangia affecting the Intercity Express, Kamrup Express and Siphong Express.


SFI and Democratic Youth Federation of India demonstrators sat on the railway tracks here in Kamrup district for two hours from 8 am in support of their demands, official sources said.

The Alipurduar-Lumding Intercity Express was held up here for two hours, while the Dibrugarh-Howrah down Kamrup Express was controlled at Kundukona and the Alipurduwar- Mariani up Siphong Express at Ghoghrapara, the sources said.

The agitationists demanded restoration of the Rangia-Murkungchelek broad gauge rail line, stoppage of the Rajdhani Express at Rangia, appointment of local youths in Group C and D category railway jobs, security of railway passengers.

A double railway line from New Bongaigaon to Guwahati through Rangia, construction of another rail-cum-road bridge over Brahmaputra here and an overbridge in the railway station here were the other demands.

The district administration along with police and railway officials rushed to the blockade site and picked up the slogan shouting picketers declaring their blockade illegal.

They were kept in a temporary jail and later released, the sources said.

The SFI and DYFI submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Rangia Divisional Railway Manager through the Divisional Commercial Manager here.