The North Cachar Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum and the North Cachar Hills Indigenous Women’s Forum on Saturday threatened an indefinite rail blockade in Dima Hasao district of Assam from February 17 if the Northeast Frontier Railway fails to pay compensation to the families whose lands were taken for a project.

The president of the students’ forum, David Keivom, said the lands were damaged during broad-gauge conversion.

“According to our estimate, they will get Rs 4.58 crore as compensation. More than 300 hectares of cultivable lands, belonging to over 500 below-poverty line families, were destroyed,” he said.

“We have been demanding compensation since 2007. The NFR had promised to give compensation but now they are not paying heed to our demands and grievances,” he added.