Train services affected across Jharkhand, Odisha, parts of West Bengal as Kurmis demanding ST status block railway tracks

Protestors under the banner of 'Adivasi Kurmi Samaj' walk on railway tracks during a rail blockade, demanding Scheduled Tribe status, at Muri railway station, in Ranchi district of Jharkhand on Saturday. (PTI)

Train services across Jharkhand, Odisha and parts of West Bengal came to a halt on Saturday as Kurmi organisations carried out coordinated "Rail Roko" blockades demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status and recognition of the Kurmali language. Authorities reported widespread disruption, with several trains cancelled, short-terminated or delayed, and passengers stranded for hours.

In Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal, Kurmi organisations are pressing for inclusion of their community in the Scheduled Tribe list and official recognition of the Kurmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.

In Ranchi, railway officials confirmed that services under the South Eastern Railway (SER) and the East Central Railway (ECR) were partially affected. "At least three trains, including Hatia-Barddhaman MEMU and Tatanagar-Gua-Tatanagar MEMU, have been cancelled, one has been short-terminated and four were controlled," the statement said. Security personnel were deployed at sensitive stations to disperse protestors and ensure safety.

Similar scenes played out in Hazaribagh district, where thousands gathered at Charhi railway station from 8 am. Led by Mandu MLA Tiwari Mahto, men, women and youth squatted on the tracks, forcing trains to screech to a halt. "This is a peaceful protest, but it will intensify if our legitimate demands are ignored. The government must act decisively," Mahto told the gathering.

In Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, members of the Odisha Kurmi Sena briefly blocked the Bangirposi-Bhubaneswar Super Fast Express at Bhanjapur station, halting it for more than 20 minutes before being removed by police. The organisation’s president Divyasingh Mahanta declared, "We are fighting for the community’s constitutional rights." The agitation also spilled onto district roads, affecting traffic movement.

Protests were reported in Ranchi at Rai station, in Giridih at Parasnath, and in Bokaro at Chandrpura under the banner of the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj (AKS). Demonstrators sat on the tracks, chanting slogans about "years of neglect," and pressing for ST status as well as constitutional recognition of their language. One protester said, "We have completed our education, but what have we gained? Nothing. We haven’t secured good jobs, and we want to ensure a better future for our children."

The Ranchi administration imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS in a 300-metre radius around stations such as Muri, Silli, Khalari and Tatisilwai, effective from Friday evening until Sunday morning. Similar curbs were enforced at Tatanagar, Govindpur, Rakha Mines and Haldipokhar stations in East Singhbhum district. As per the orders, dharnas, effigy burning, carrying sticks, bows or arrows, and public addresses were banned in the restricted zones.

Kurmi organisations had earlier announced that the agitation would spread across Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha from September 20. In Jamshedpur, Railway Protection Force officer Jitendra Chandra Das confirmed heightened vigilance: "No one has entered since morning. A few women attempted to come in but were turned away at the gates. So far, some local trains have passed through without any disruptions. We are monitoring the situation using drones."

In West Bengal, state president Rajesh Mahato of the Kurmi community declared that rail blockades and road protests would be staged in Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur. Additional police forces were deployed to prevent escalation.

Police chiefs across the states were instructed to remain on high alert. Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta directed units to deploy more personnel with protective gear, set up CCTV cameras and drones at sensitive stations, and coordinate closely with railway police. "Our goal is to prevent stone-pelting and guarantee passenger safety," he noted.

Despite the prohibitory orders, Kurmi leaders insisted the stir was peaceful. "We are staging protests on railway tracks in a peaceful manner," said Sheetal Ohdar, central president of Kurmi Vikas Morcha and member of Adivasi Kurmi Samaj.

Political parties such as the AJSU extended support to the Kurmi community’s demand. Protestors, however, warned that the movement will continue until the governments—both state and central—deliver concrete assurances. "We have endured discrimination for decades; now, raising our voice is not a choice but a necessity," community members said.

With inputs from agencies