Movement of trains came to a halt in several parts of Dima Hasao district in Assam due to rail blockade by the All Apex Body Coordination Committee on Tuesday. The coordination committee announced a 24-hour rail blockade in the district protesting inclusion of Dima Hasao territories in the proposed Greater Nagalim and creation of satellite council in Naga inhabited areas of Dima Hasao. However, following district administration’s request the committee withdrew its agitation after three hours.
Hundreds of agitators from different parts of the district gathered at the New Haflong railway station and also at Maibang railway station at 8 AM to voice their protest against proposed Naga Framework Agreement. They shouted slogans against any move to include the territory of the district in the Greater Nagalim. However, the leaders of the All Apex Body Coordination Committee affirmed that they were not opposed to the Nagas or solution of Naga problem. But they vehemently opposed any move to transfer even an inch of Dima Hasa land to the proposed Nagalim.
Seeing an opportunity to gain political mileage over the issue, Dima Hasao district Congress Committee president Nirmal Langthasa rushed to the spot of agitation and strongly criticised the BJP government for that. He also demanded the government to make the Naga Framework Agreement public.
Though the agitation was peaceful yet rail passengers moving to and fro Barak Valley had to face problems due to the blockade.
Additional deputy commissioner of the district Bhaskar Dev Sarma reached the spot and appealed to the agitators to withdraw the blockade. Acknowledging the administration’s request, the agitators then withdrew the blockade at 11 AM.