Members of the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS) initiated a widespread rail blockade across Jharkhand on Saturday morning, defying prohibitory orders to demand Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Kurmi community and the inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The protests, which began at multiple stations, have disrupted train services on the Southeastern and East Central Railway divisions, highlighting escalating tensions over long-standing socio-economic grievances.

Protesters were observed sitting on tracks at key locations, including Rai station in Ranchi, Parasnath in Giridih, and Chandrapura in Bokaro district. The action, led by AKS under the Kurmi Vikas Morcha, has halted several trains, stranding passengers and cargo. Security forces, including local police and railway protection units, are actively engaging with demonstrators to de-escalate the situation and restore rail movement, though no major clashes have been reported as of early morning.

In anticipation of the stir, the Ranchi administration invoked Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), imposing restrictions within a 300-meter radius of affected stations such as Muri, Silli, Khalari, and Tatisilwai, effective from 8 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Sunday. Similar orders, covering a 100-meter radius, apply to Tatanagar, Govindpur, Rakha Mines, and Haldipokhar stations in East Singhbhum's Dhalbhum subdivision. Prohibited activities include assemblies of five or more people, dharnas, effigy burnings, gheraos, and possession of weapons like sticks or bows and arrows, aimed at maintaining public order.

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The Kurmi community, comprising around 8% of Jharkhand's population and traditionally engaged in agriculture, has renewed its push for ST classification, arguing it would unlock affirmative action benefits denied under their current Other Backward Class (OBC) status. The demand for Kurmali's constitutional recognition seeks to preserve cultural identity amid linguistic marginalisation. AKS leader Sheetal Ohdar emphasised the protests' peaceful intent, while Director General of Police Anurag Gupta directed heightened vigilance, including drone surveillance, CCTV deployment, and additional forces in protective gear to safeguard passengers and prevent violence. Political outfits like the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have voiced solidarity, amplifying the movement's political resonance in the resource-rich state.

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