Train services in North Bengal were disrupted after the All Koch Rajbongshi Separate State Committee (AKRSSC) members blocked railway tracks since morning. The AKRSSC has been demanding a separate state carved out of lower Assam and portions of North Bengal. Since morning, nearly 200 members of the group sat on the tracks and refused to allow trains to run.

Among the trains affected were the Rajdhani, Kamprup Express, Bangalore Express and Saraighat Express. A large number of goods trains were also held up at various stations in North Bengal.

Senior Eastern railway officials, however, said that so far none of the trains headed to Kolkata from North Bengal have been affected.

“Since all the trains reach here in the morning, they were not affected and all the Up trains too are plying on time. We do not know how the services will be affected tomorrow,” he said.

The police managed to pick up nearly 200 protestors but local sources said other protestors continued the blockade. Local sources also said that many goods trains were held up at New Jalpaiguri station, since the protestors refused to let them move out.

Senior police and railway officials were sent to the spot to intervene and talk to protestors.