Train Operations Disrupted as Kurmi Protestors Stage Rail Blockade in Jharkhand

Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS) activists launched a defiant rail blockade at multiple stations across Jharkhand on Saturday morning, partially disrupting train operations in the South Eastern Railway (SER) and Dhanbad division of the East Central Railway (ECR). The protests, aimed at securing Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for the Kurmi community and inclusion of the Kurmali language in the Constitution's Eighth Schedule, highlight longstanding demands for affirmative action and cultural recognition in the tribal-majority state.

Demonstrators sat on tracks at key sites, including Rai station in Ranchi, Parasnath in Giridih, and Chandrapura in Bokaro district, led by the Kurmi Vikas Morcha. Railway authorities reported immediate impacts: three trains, such as the Hatia-Barddhaman Memu and Tatanagar-Gua-Tatanagar Memu, were cancelled; one was short-terminated; and four others were regulated to manage delays.

The blockade, defying Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) restrictions, has stranded passengers and affected freight movement in this mineral-rich corridor, which handles significant coal and steel traffic vital to India's economy.

In response, administrations in Ranchi and East Singhbhum districts enforced prohibitory orders: a 300-meter radius around Ranchi stations like Muri, Silli, Khalari, and Tatisilwai from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Sunday; and a 100-meter perimeter at Tatanagar, Govindpur, Rakha Mines, and Haldipokhar.

These ban assemblies of five or more people, dharnas, effigy burnings, gheraos, public addresses, and possession of weapons like sticks or bows and arrows. Security forces, bolstered by Director General of Police Anurag Gupta's directives for enhanced vigilance, deployed additional personnel in protective gear, CCTV, and drones at sensitive spots, coordinating with railway police to avert stone-pelting and ensure commuter safety.

Also Read: Kurmis Stage Rail Blockade In Jharkhand Demanding ST Status

AKS leader Sheetal Ohdar affirmed the protests' peaceful nature, while political allies like the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) voiced solidarity. The Kurmis, numbering over 15 lakh in Jharkhand and classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC), argue ST status would provide quotas in education, jobs, and politics, addressing marginalisation despite their agrarian roots.

This escalation follows failed negotiations with the state government, echoing similar agitations in 2023 that paralysed rail networks for days. As talks resume, the standoff risks broader economic fallout, with authorities urging restraint to restore normalcy amid Jharkhand's pre-election sensitivities.

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