Kurmi community's agitation disrupts rail and road traffic in West Bengal

Rail and road traffic came to halt in parts of Bengal even as the tribal Kurmi community's movement in Paschim Medinipur and Purulia entered fifth day on Sunday, demanding Scheduled Tribe(ST) status and recognition of Sari and Sarna religion.

Several organizations of the Kurmi community continued blockade of railway tracks at Khemasuli in Paschim Medinipur district and adjacent NH-6, which connects Kolkata to Mumbai. However, the blockade was lifted from Purulia's Kustaur today morning while fresh agitation started in the Purulia district's Kotshila in the afternoon. The five-day agitation and blockade led to cancellations of at least 400 trains in the South Eastern Railway division.

Following withdrawal of agitation in Kastaur in Purulia, ten trains have been restored by SER.

The Kurmi leaders have refused to sit for discussion with the West Bengal administration on the issue, despite much persuasion.

Kurmi community leader Ajit Mahato said, "We will continue with our movement. We have refused to sit for discussion with the state administration and have returned the letter from the Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi. We have been a victim of deprivation for the last 73 years." The community has also been demanding ST status and recognition of Sari and Sarna dharma for long.

"The Kurmi community is stopping the movement in Purulia's Kustaur for the time being. After meeting with our state committee, we will take forward further decision," Mahato said. However, it was seen that in the afternoon, fresh agitation started in Kotshila.

"A letter was sent to us to hold a meeting with the Chief Secretary. However, we have refused to join such a meeting, Mahato added.
"I think the issue should be resolved peacefully. Purulia's Kustaur protest has been removed peacefully. The Khemasuli protest will also be lifted," RPF Inspector General said.

"The public agitation and rail blockade which was continuing at Kustaur station in Adra Division of South Eastern Railway since April 5 has been withdrawn at 11.45 hrs. today. However, the agitation at Khemasuli station of Kharagpur Division which started on 05.04.2023 is still continuing. Agitation has also started at Kotshila station in Adra Division from 12.20 hrs today, a South Eastern Railway (SER) statement said.

Sources in South Eastern Railways said that long-distance trains cannot be started as the movement continues in Khemasuli.

Hundreds of members of the Kurmi community from West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha have joined the movement and staged protests in Paschim Medinipur and Purulia districts since April 5, bringing road and railway services to a grinding halt in parts of the state.

Among the some of the important trains cancelled in last few days -Howrah-Chakradharpur Express, Howrah-Bokaro Steel City Express, Ranchi-Bokaro Steel City Passenger Special, Howrah-Barbil Jan Shatabdi Express, Purulia- Howrah Express, Howrah -Pune Duronto Express, Puri-New Delhi Express, Howrah- Mumbai CSMT Gitanjali Express, Howrah -Titlagarh Express and Santragachi-Purulia Express were also cancelled, SER said.