Rail Roko movement enters second day in Cooch Behar

Train services remained disrupted as members of Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) squatted on railway tracks in New Cooch Behar station today as the rail blockade demanding C category statehood or Union Territory status for Cooch Behar continued.
The GCPA agitators, who were sitting on the tracks and holding placards since 6 AM yesterday, were demanding that representatives of the Home Ministry should come here to talk to them.
GCPA leader Bangshi Badan Barman said Cooch Behar was included in India following an agreement between the then Maharaja of Cooch Behar and the Government of India. Cooch Behar enjoyed status of C category state for about three months but the then Chief Minister of West Bengal Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy included it into the state as a district.

The GCPA leader said they will not withdraw the movement their demand of making Cooch Behar a C category state or Union Territory is accepted.
The GCPA supporters, led by Barman, are still agitating at New Cooch Behar railway station, a railway official said, adding, many of the agitators were squatting on the rail tracks, he said.
Barman said though the stranded rail passengers were suffering, the people of Cooch Behar had been suffering for past 66 years.

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A Northeast Frontier Railway spokesman said in Guwahati, the NFR headquarters, that local trains between New Jalpaiguri (NJP)-Coochbehar section have been cancelled as the main line was closed.

However, all major long distance trains have been diverted via New Bongaigaon-Samoktola, Alipurduar, Siliguri and NJP junction routes, the spokesman said.
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GCPA leader Bangshi Badan Barman told