Demanding release of kidnapped LP

Railway employees observe 'black day'

TNN | Nov 1, 2011.

SILCHAR: North-Eastern Frontier Railway Mazdoor Union on Monday, observed 'black day' in all stations under the Lumding division, in protest against attacking, kidnapping and killing of railway employees in southern Assam. They also demanded the immediate release of locomotive driver Tarun Kumar Bhattacharjee (50), who was kidnapped from Badarpur-Bhairavi passenger train by suspected United Democratic Liberation Army (UDLA), a Reang outfit at Choraibak on October 20.

The employees and their wives at 10:30 am brought out a huge rally in Badarpur, the sub-divisional headquarter of NF railway. They marched through the streets of the railway township shouting slogans demanding the immediate release of Bhattacharjee, a resident of Badarpur, in unharmed condition. His wife, Beauty and other members of his family also joined the agitation.

The Union's organizing secretary, Bhajan Dey later addressed a gathering at the railway station and warned the authorities that they will stop movement of all trains under the Lumding division for an indefinite period if Bhattacharjee is not released unharmed immediately.

He alleged that the authorities have not provided the railway employees in this part of the North-East with any security even after the locomotive driver was kidnapped.

"Militants have targeted the railway employees and trains in southern Assam including Dima Hasao district, a total of 16 times over the past years. Seven railway men have also lost their lives in such attacks. The railway employees in the hill section of Lumding-Silchar have been working under the shadows of guns of the militants and miscreants," said Dey. tnn