Train movement along the principal rail route that connects the Northeast with the rest of the country was disrupted for around five hours on Wednesday as hundreds of supporters of the Bangshibadan Barman faction of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples’ Association (GCPA) blocked tracks over the longstanding demand of a separate state and recognition of the Rajbanshi language.

According to sources of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), around 6.45am, about 5,000 GCPA supporters led by Barman blocked the tracks at Jorai, a railway station in Cooch Behar located near the Bengal-Assam border.

“We want the central government to meet our demand of a separate Greater Cooch Behar state according to the merger agreement of 1949 (when the then princely state of Cooch Behar had merged with India). Also, the Rajbanshi language should be included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution,” said Barman, while leadingthe protest.

The GCPA supporters wielded placards and shouted slogans in support of the demand as a large contingent of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and state police stood on guard to maintain lawand order.

“In 2016, the GCPA had held a similar rail roko on the same demands. To ensure that there is no breach of peace, adequate security arrangements were made by the railways and the Cooch Behar district administration,” said a source.

The railway authorities cancelled a couple of trains, some other trains were diverted along the Fakiragram–Golakganj–New Coochbehar route. Some more trains were regulated in different stations of north Bengal and the Northeast. The NFR had also arranged buses and SUVs for passengers who were affected by the diversion of the trains.

As the blockade continued, senior railway officers reached the spot. They spoke to Barman and some other GCPA leaders in the station superintendent’s room at Jorai station.

After the meeting, around 11.45 am, Barman announced that they were withdrawing the blockade.

“The railway officials have received our memorandum and assured us that they will pass on the necessary information to Delhi. We have told them that the Union home ministry should convene a meeting and soon, we will send a letter to the ministry through railway officials. That is why we have withdrawn the blockade,” said theGCPA leader.

Soon, the GCPA supporters started leaving the spot. “After some time, the railway authorities checked the tracks where the blockade was staged, and then, train movement resumed along the route,” said K.K. Sharma, the chief public relations officer of the NFR.