Assam: Railway activists arrested after protest over delayed Chandranathpur-Lanka line construction

Railway activists demanding faster construction of the Chandranathpur-Lanka broad gauge line were arrested outside Silchar Railway Station on Saturday after police intervened during their demonstration.

 

Members of the Silchar-Lumding Broad Gauge Rupayan Sangram Committee gathered at the station demanding that the railway project be completed with "wartime urgency." The protesters chanted slogans before attempting to submit a memorandum to railway officials.

 

Police initially questioned the demonstrators about protesting without proper permits. When the group tried to enter the station premises to deliver their petition, district police stepped in, leading to a confrontation between officers and activists.

 

The situation escalated when the Silchar Railway Station manager emerged to personally accept the memorandum. However, immediately after receiving the document, police informed the protesters they were being arrested for unauthorised assembly and demonstration against government policy.

 

The arrests sparked anger among the demonstrators, who maintained their detention was unjustified. The activists have been pushing for the accelerated development of the railway infrastructure connecting Chandranathpur to Lanka, citing the project's importance for regional connectivity.

 

According to local residents, the Chandranathpur–Lanka broad gauge line would serve as a vital alternative to the Badarpur–Lumding route, which is frequently disrupted by landslides and often becomes impassable during the monsoon season.