The Greater Cooch Behar People’s Association (GCPA) blocked the railway track on Saturday near New Cooch Behar station demanding for a separate state. Around 3000 supporters took part in this agitation. The demand for a separate state has been going on for almost a decade.
In December last year, scores of protesters sat on a hunger strike, demanding formation of a separate Cooch Behar state, which was merged with West Bengal in 1950.
The hunger strike scheduled from December 8 to December 12 was organised by the GCPA, which had earlier held similar protests demanding a separate state.
Under an agreement between the king of Cooch Behar and the Indian Government at the end of British rule, Maharaja Jagaddipendra Narayan transferred full authority, jurisdiction and power of the state to the government in 1949.
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