Over a hundred families in Raghunathpur village opposing land acquisition have formed a unit of Trinamul Congress in the area a few days back.
The NFR has recently declared a ceasework unless the state government solved the land dispute and ensured safety of their staff.
Sources in the NFR said the focal point of the dispute is Raghunathpur village near Bishalgarh sub-divisional town through which the 110km track will snake to Sabroom, the southernmost subdivision of Tripura.
The initial survey for railway connectivity up to Sabroom suggested a different route for laying of tracks.
Following a need for realignment, it was decided in January that the tracks will pass through burial grounds in Raghunathpur.
Work for it also requires eviction of nearly 100 families besides demolition of a madarsa.
The chairman of the Tripura unit of Trinamul Congress, Arun Chandra Bhowmik, will visit the area tomorrow to address a rally.
Subdivisional officer, Bishalgarh, B.K. Rakshit, said according to the third and final survey, Raghunathpur was notified for land acquisition.
“Land is always a sensitive issue and here also people have reacted adversely. The residents going to be affected by land acquisition have demanded realignment of the track which will require deviation of a 10km stretch and cost escalation,” Rakshit said.
Efforts were on to convince the residents and the matter would be considered if they refused to budge, he said.
“My house spread over nearly two acres of land will be lost to the railways and similarly my neighbour will lose his house and an orchard,” a villager, said.
“Another of my neighbour will also lose his paddy land, residential premises besides a burial ground and small madarsa,” he said adding that the government price for the acquired land would be much less than the actual market price.
The villagers accused CPM MLA of Bishalgarh, Bhanulal Saha, of hatching a conspiracy to have them displaced for the residents’ pro-Congress leanings.
“We will not allow this land to be acquired and teach Saha a lesson in the next Assembly polls,” a villager said.
Saha said the allegations were “baseless and politically motivated”.
“I did not direct the railways to survey and I was never consulted. They do not know what they are saying,” Saha said.