Tribals block rail lines for nearly six hours; 14 trains hit

GUWAHATI: The movement of over a dozen trains was disrupted for nearly six hours today due to blockade of railway tracks at Eklakhi in West Bengal by tribal people in protest of serial attacks by NDFB(S) terrorists in Assam.

"Agitation by the local tribal people at Eklakhi (near Malda) under the Katihar Division of Northeast Frontier Railway has badly affected train services today," an official release said.

"At about 11 AM, hundreds of people assembled at Eklakhi with traditional arms and blocked both the Up and Down lines thereby stopping train movement. The agitation was finally withdrawn at 4:30 PM after which train services resumed," NFR Chief Public Relations Officer said in the statement.

They were protesting against the recent incidents of violence in Assam, it added.

As a result of this agitation, 14 trains were either detained or short terminated or re-scheduled, NFR said.