The Indigenous Students’ Forum (ISF) observed railway blockade at New Harangajao Railway Station in Dima Hasao district on Thursday in protest against non-fulfilment of their demand to provide compensation to the people, who have lost their lands due to the Broad Gauge (BG) conversion work in the hill region.
Keeping in view of the rail blockade programme announced by the ISF the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) authority through a notification on Wednesday cancelled or short-terminated journey of a total of four trains since Wednesday night.
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Also read: 4 trains cancelled due to NCHISF’s rail blockade in Dima Hasao
He also said, “We have held 15 meetings with the authorities concerned over the compensation issue for the last five years. But no solution has come out. We have been just assured of compensating the affected people within one month or so when we sit for a discussion. But till date the issue has not been solved.”
According to ISF, the people of the hill region have suffered heavy loss due to the construction of the Lumding-Silchar Broad Gauge line. ISF has been protesting for a long time demanding the compensation for the loss.
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The ISF activists in co-operation with locals staged protest at New Harangajao Railway Station on Thursday. David Keivam, president of ISF, said, “The rail authority has not taken any measures to release the compensation. We have no intension to harass the people. They are still unable to put a solution after several meetings.”
The ISF protestors shouted slogans like ‘We want compensation’, ‘We want Justice’, etc.
Keivom also threatened to continue the railway blockade programme until the authorities concerned solves the issue.
It may be mentioned that that the ISF had given the NFR authority a 15-day deadline to compensate the people, who have lost lands due to BG conversion up to April 18, 2018.