The Hindu : Night trains between Bengal, Assam suspended

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 25, 2004

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National

Night trains between Bengal, Assam suspended

By Marcus Dam

KOLKATA, JAN. 24. Apprehensions that militants, stung by the recent offensive by the Royal Bhutan Army against Indian insurgents camped there, could be planning subversive acts during the Republic Day celebrations have prompted the Railways to suspend night trains running between West Bengal and Assam from 6 p.m. on January 25 till 6 a.m. on January 27.

Even though such precautionary measures are taken every year, security concerns have heightened in the region in the aftermath of the Bhutan operations.

The need for elaborate security along the tracks and bridges and at stations between the two States has arisen following intelligence reports that militants belonging to the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation and the United Liberation Front of Asom, who are on the run following the Bhutan crackdown, might be trying to re-group and engage in reprisals.

Speaking to The Hindu over the telephone from the divisional headquarters of the Northern Frontier (NF) Railway at Alipurduar in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district today, the Divisional Security Commissioner of the railways, B.R. Singh, said that all railway stations in the division spanning the region had been alerted.

"Operatives of militant outfits have been active in this area and intelligence reports suggest that they could be planning trouble before and during Republic Day. The decision to take special security measures in the coming days was taken at a meeting of senior security officials of the NF Railway, police officials and those belonging to the Army and other para-military forces at Kokrajhar in Assam last week."

Services along 13 train routes that pass through the West Bengal-Assam border will be affected.

The trains will be halted at the closest railway stations before night falls and additional forces of the Railway Police Force and local police will be deployed at these stations during this period.

The CRPF and other paramilitary forces will also be on stand-by at these places. Major railway bridges are being illuminated for security and vigil is being intensified at the vulnerable stretches and major installations.

Mr. Singh said there was a proposal to amend railway laws to augment security in stations and on trains running through sensitive areas adjoining the border between the two States.

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