Sribhumi: Rail Roko in Mahisashan; Protester Asks, “Are We Seen as Bangladeshis?”

A Rail Roko Andolan (railway blockade protest) erupted on Monday morning at Mahisashan Railway Station, located in the Sribhumi district, as local residents demanded the immediate restoration of daily passenger train services between Mahisashan and Silchar via the Karimganj Railway Station. The protest, led by agitated locals under the banner of “Rail Roko Andolan”, saw demonstrators blocking the railway track in frustration over years of unfulfilled promises by railway authorities.

On the morning of June 23, hundreds of residents from Mahisashan and the surrounding areas gathered on the railway tracks, initiating a blockade to press for their long-standing demand. Protesters stated that they would not vacate the railway station premises until the authorities commit to running trains daily along the Mahisashan–Karimganj–Silchar route, as was the practice before the COVID-19 pandemic. They claimed that despite numerous petitions and memorandums submitted over the past four years, their concerns have not been addressed.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, two passenger trains used to operate daily on this route—one in the morning and one in the evening. However, post-pandemic adjustments led to a sharp reduction in services. Currently, only four trains run weekly—on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays—leaving residents with minimal connectivity. Protesters argue that this has affected their ability to commute for work, education, and medical needs. They are demanding a return to the pre-COVID train schedule with daily morning and evening services.

This train even finds the least priority in running on those four days, as express trains and mail expresses are given a pass, while this train is kept stopped at odd places for the crossing.

“Since COVID-19, this train route has remained virtually closed. It’s been four years—COVID has gone, but our misfortune hasn’t,” said one protester while speaking to the media. “We’ve submitted memorandums from the Prime Minister’s Office down to the area manager, yet we’ve only received hollow assurances. We want answers. Is it because we are Bengalis? Are we being seen as Bangladeshis or Pakistanis?”

Police officials arrived at the scene to control the gathering and maintain order. However, the crowd remained adamant and refused to vacate the tracks until their demands were addressed. The atmosphere remains tense but under control as officials attempt to negotiate with the demonstrators.

Some protesters alleged that women and students were mishandled by the police during the crowd control efforts. However, police officials have denied these allegations and assured that they are committed to maintaining peace and order while addressing the concerns of the demonstrators.

Mahisashan is a historic border railway station in Assam’s Sribhumi district. It once served as a key transit point on the India–Bangladesh route, with its corresponding station being Shahbajpur (Latu) in Sylhet, Bangladesh. However, the Mahisashan–Shahbajpur line has remained non-operational since December 1996 due to insufficient cross-border rail traffic. Today, its relevance remains for local inter-district travel, which has now become a matter of public agitation due to limited services.