Tinsukia: Forty-four people claiming to be from Jammu and Kashmir were detained at the New Tinsukia Railway Station in Assam on Monday after local youth suspected their “doubtful identity”, police said.
The group, which had arrived by the Chandigarh Express, was stopped by locals who alerted the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Hijuguri police outpost. Police teams reached the station shortly afterwards to investigate.
According to officials, the detained individuals claimed they had travelled from Jammu and Kashmir on the invitation of a contractor. However, none of them could clearly state the contractor’s name.
During questioning, several members of the group said they were visiting Tinsukia for the first time and had come for labour work related to tower erection, earth digging and a project extending into Arunachal Pradesh. One individual also said they were supposed to proceed to Dibrugarh.
Police said verification of their identity and the purpose of their travel was underway.
With PTI inputs