NFR served legal notice to agitators for disrupting railway services

Guwahati:  On last December 11^th, train services were affected because of a rail blockade at Jorai Railway station of Alipurduar Division by the Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA).

Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) through a press statement said that more than 5000 agitators assembled at the premises of Jorai station blocking all the lines. As a result of the rail blockade, several trains had to be cancelled and several trains were diverted through the alternate route. Passenger travelling by trains suffered a lot.

NFR said that the agitators have created nuisances and hampered the Railway working system. The blockade was completely unauthorized and the agitators have violated several sections of laws by obstructing the train movement, endangering passenger safety and trespassing into railway premises. On duty RPF, GRP & Local police officials tried to resist the agitators several time through PA system, loudhailer and gave instruction for withdrawal of the agitation. But the agitators denied withdrawing the obstruction from railway track. All the steps taken by the on-duty security staffs were being done as per the law. As a result of this forced Rail blockade, Railways had to suffer a financial loss of Rs. 5.61 crores (approx). Due to the financial loss incurred because of the blockade, Railways had served a compensation notice through the Court of CJM/Alipurduar to few of the leaders of GCPA who lead the agitation on that day. In due course of time action will be taken as per law to make up the losses.

Railway is seen as a soft target for may agitator groups, though the demands of the group are in no way concerned with the railways. The offences committed by such groups are extremely severe and have far reaching consequences directly putting passenger safety at huge risk. Railways will always work to keep its passengers trust in safety and security upheld and never inspires such groups with their illegitimate demands to see railways as an easy and soft target.