Arunachal train suspended as locals claim migrants entering the state

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh appeared on the national railways map just two months ago. The local population was initially ecstatic.

The Arunachal Pradesh government had hailed it as a big leap towards integrating the state into the Union of India. But, the train services have been indefinitely suspended from Saturday after the local people and organizations expressed fears that the train service is leading to a large scale migration of people from rest of India to the frontier state.

The Naharlagun-Dekargaon (Assam) train service has been suspended by the Indian Railways. This comes days after All Nyishi Students Union (ANSU) and All Papum Pare District Students Union (APPDSU) demanded for immediate suspension of train service alleging that illegal migrants are pouring into the state using railways.

According to a report in 'Arunachal Times' the staffs of Naharlagun and Gumto stations have been withdrawn and both the stations have been sealed.

"The train service has been suspended indefinitely due to security reason," the station master added. In an advertisement issued on Friday, the North-East Frontier Railway informed public that the train instead of Naharlagun station, will now terminate at Harmuti and will continue to do so till situation improves.

Ever since the train service started various student organizations of state like ANSU, SUMA, APPDSU and other civil society organizations have been expressing serious concern over large scale migration of outsiders into state.

There is a growing distrust between people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Central Government over the railway service. Large section of Arunachalee society believes that train service has been started in order to end the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

It has caused massive sentiment against train service. To make matter worse, railway authorities along with state government has failed to implement proper ILP checking system at train stations.

Both the sides are blaming each other for this problem. "Everybody was aware that train service will start from March onwards. Why state government did not took any step in this regard. It is not our duty to check ILP and is prerogative of state government," said a railway official who did not wished to be name.