Three bogies and a trolley of the Barak Valley Express were derailed after militants blew up a portion of rail track in a powerful blast in central Assam’s North Cachar Hills district, where the ultras have called for an indefinite bandh.
There was no casualty in the incident, Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters spokesman S. Hajong said in Guwahati.
The explosion on the rail tracks occurred around 12.30 pm, causing the train, proceeding from Lumding to Silchar in Cachar district, to jump the rails in a remote place between Lower Haflong and Bagatar railway stations, Mr. Hajong said.
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The rear trolley and three bogies derailed due to the blast after about 70 metre of the railway track was damaged.
The movement of trains was stopped, he said, adding Railway and police officials have rushed to the site.
Meanwhile, the Dima Halam Daogah (Dilip Nunisa) group has called an indefinite district bandh from Wednesday demanding the arrest of district Additional Superintendent of Police Amitav Sinha and four DHD (Jewel) faction members for allegedly assaulting one of its cadres on October 23 at Gabao Village.
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Business establishments and shops downed their shutters and educational institutions remained closed, while vehicles were off the roads, sources said.
The bandh, however, did not affect the Jatinga International Festival, showcasing rich cultural diversity of the Dima Hasao District, which was inaugurated by Governor J.B. Patnaik.