The rail blockade programme carried out by a conglomerate of Koch-Rajbongshi organizations turned violent at Chautara railway station in Kokrajhar district after protesters pelted stones at security forces forcing cops to first launch a baton charge and then fire tear gas shells to disperse agitating protesters.
At least three policemen were reportedly injured in stone pelting while a few protesters also received some minor injuries.
#BREAKING | Violence during rail blockade programme by conglomerate of Koch-Rajbongshi organizations demanding ST status and a separate 'Kamatapur' State, security forces resort to baton-charge, fire tear gas shells at Chautara in Kokrajhar district. Few protesters, cops injured pic.twitter.com/rSTYXrKzvM
— NEWS LIVE (@NewsLiveGhy) August 6, 2018
The protest was carried out by the All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani (AAKRS) from 6 am today (Aug 6) as protesters squatted on railway tracks demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the community and a separate ‘Kamatapur’ State.
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The rail blockade programme disrupted normal movement of trains with NF Railway officials cancelling two trains — the Kamakhya-Alipur Duar Intercity Express and the Rangiya-New Jalpaiguri passenger — following the rail blockade while a few other trains were either diverted or stopped at other stations.
The blockade was withdrawn at 2 pm following which normal movement of trains has been restored.
