NCHISF sticks to indefinite rail blockade from March 1

From a Correspondent

Haflong, Feb 27: The representatives of NC Hills Indigenous Students’ Forum (NCHISF) walked out of the meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner, Dima Hasao, between the Railway authority and the representatives of NCHISF as the railway authority failed to send competent representatives on Tuesday. The NCHISF had given a call for indefinite rail blockade from March 1 as the railway authority failed comply with the promises made by the higher-ups relating to the compensation for land development and in this regard, the Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner arranged a meeting at his conference hall on Tuesday.

The meeting was attended by ADEN, Haflong, Niraj Kumar, Executive Engineer and a person from Railway, and Dima Hasao Deputy Commissioner Devojyoti Hazarika, ADC V D Sarma and ADC Deepak Jidung from district administration. Talking to the media, David Keivom, president of NCHISF, said, “We walked out of the meeting as the railway authority failed to send competent officials who can take decision despite assurance given even by the General Mager of N F Railway. We felt it as a deliberate insult to the people of Dima Hasao.”

Keivom also alleged that the Railway authority never felt it necessary to solve their problems and hence they had been compelled to go for railway blockade from March 1. Dima Hasao DC Devojyoty Hazarika said, “We had convened the meeting between Railway authority and the representatives of NCHISF who have given a call for indefinite rail blockade from March 1. But as the Railway failed to send competent officials, the NCHISF walked out of the meeting without any discussion.”