A worker travelling to Guwahati from Bihar died inside
a train halted on Sunday due to a rail blockade by agitators demanding Greater
Cooch Behar. Sunday was the second day of the agitation and even a death showed
no signs of respite, as reported to EXIN Times.
The Greater Cooch Behar
Peoples Association (GCPA) continued with their protests for more than 36 hours
demanding Union Territory status for Cooch Behar. They blocked rail lines at
the New Cooch Behar station on Sunday and forced trains to take detour routes
from Siliguri to Assam and back.
According to the recent
reports, 15 trains were cancelled on Monday and will remain so for the next two
days. The trains are as follows: Sealdah-New Alipurduar Teesta Torsa Express,
Sealdah-New Cooch Behar Uttarbanga Express and Howrah-Guwahati Saraighat
Express. Long-distance trains to and from the Northeast, including Rajdhani,
were diverted through the Dooars route, which is a single-line track from
Alipurduar to Siliguri Junction.
The secretary of GCPA,
Banshibadan Burman admitted that their protests are causing inconvenience, but
also said: "We admit that hundreds of passengers travelling by train are
facing inconvenience. But we have been struggling with the demand for the past
60 years and will not withdraw (our protest) unless a representative of the
central government comes here, meets us and clarifies what the Centre intends
to do with our demand."
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