GUWAHATI:Owing to security concerns, night running of trains will remain suspended in Assam from Saturday till August 16 to thwart any possible attack by militants as a call to boycott Independence Day celebrations across North East has been issued by 12 rebel groups of the region.
”Due to security reason in Assam area, night running of trains will be suspended from 1800 hours to 0500 hours from August 13 to August 16. As a result, many trains have been cancelled/short terminated/regulated/rescheduled during those days,” Northeast Frontier Railways CPRO S Hajong said here.
Altogether 24 local passenger and inter-city trains have been cancelled from August 13 to 16 while 12 other trains have been cancelled on various days between August 13 to 16.
Several long distance trains, including the Rajdhani Express, have been partially cancelled or short terminated, the NFR spokesperson said.
Meter gauge services of Lumding and Badarpur area will remain suspended from 1800 hours of August 13 to 0500 hours of August 17.
The cancellation of MG services in Rangiya-Rangapara-Tezpur- Murkongselek of Rangiya Division will continue until further advice.
Meanwhile, 12 militant outfits of the region, including the ULFA, have called for a boycott of the August 15 celebrations.
In a joint statement on Thursday, the outfits called upon the people of the region to observe general strike from the midnight of August 14 to 1730 hours of August 15.
Besides the ULFA, the other outfits are HNLC, KLO, KYKL, KCP, NLFT, PREPAK, PREPAK (pro), RPF, TPDF, UNLF and UPPK. (PTI)