Kokrajhar, Nov. 29: Hundreds of Basugaon residents led by the Basugaon Merchant Association and Bodoland Shiv Sena today staged a two-hour dharna on Basugaon platform demanding stoppage of all fast passenger trains at the station.

The protesters with placards and banners tried to block the railway tracks but were stopped by the security forces. They later staged the dharna on the platform for around two hours.

The protesters demanded stoppage of New Coochbehar-Kamakhya Intercity Express, Dhubri-Kamakhya Express, Kamrup Express, Brahmaputra Mail at Basugaon station.

Alipurduar division railway traffic officer P. Barman held a discussion with the protesters and assured them that necessary steps would be taken.

This is the third time the people of Basugaon staged sit-ins demanding stoppage of trains. Last September, they staged a similar blockade halting several trains for several hours.

The business community in Basugaon, mostly Bengalis, said they have to face a lot of hardship despite Basugaon being a business hub of Chirang.

None of the super fast trains that connect other parts of the country stop here despite repeated appeals and requests from higher authorities in the railway department.

The business community and local residents complained that except BG passenger and Shifung Express, no other trains halt at Basugaon.