Rail blockade affects train services in Assam

Train services were affected for about two hours today following a rail blockade called by the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union (AAKRSU) in Kamrup (Rural) district.
More than 200 AAKRSU agitators blocked train tracks at Kendukona Railway station from 9 AM affecting movement of several trains, an official of the North East Frontier Railway official said here.
Police took into custody nearly 150 agitators who were demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Koch-Rajbongshis and a separate Kamtapur state.
Security was tightened at Rangiya railway station, where the protesters were earlier planning the blockade, but later they moved to the next Kendukona station, he said.

The trains affected were the Siphung Passenger, detained at Rangiya, Kamakhya-Alipurduar Inter City Express, detained at Nalbari, Dekargaon Express, stopped between Kendukona and Rangiya while the Dn Trivandrum Express and North East Express were controlled at Guwahati Railway station, he said.