West Bengal: After 5 days, Kudmis lift rail blockade, allows partial traffic movement on NH

“The agitation and rail blockade, which was continuing at Kustaur station in Adra Division and at Khemasuli station in Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway since April 5 has been withdrawn. The agitation at Kustaur was withdrawn at 11.45 hrs and at Khemasuli station at 20.19 hrs today. The agitation at Kotshila station, which started at 12.25 hrs today (April 9), was also withdrawn at 20.00 hrs,” South Eastern Railway said on Sunday evening.

Protest at Khemasuli, Paschim Medinipur, Sunday. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

“All necessary steps are being taken to restore normal train services,” it added.

The five days of blockade had paralysed rail and road traffic as it led to the cancellation of over 500 trains and left traffic stranded on the NH-6.

On Sunday afternoon, the first sign of the withdrawal of the blockade came from Kustaur railway station in Purulia district. “Our demands have not been accepted, but we are withdrawing the agitation for the time being,” Kudmi leader Ajit Mahato, who was leading the protests at Kustaur said.

But the protest at Khemasuli in Paschim Medinipur district continued. “We are four organisations from the Kudmi community agitating together here at Khemasuli (Paschim Medinipur). Since April 5, we have blocked the National Highway. We want the ST status back for our community,” said Rajesh Mahato of Paschim Banga Kudmi Samaj.

“After three failed dialogues in the past, today, we sat with local administration in the evening. To keep the dialogues on we have lifted it symbolically. A final decision will be taken only after we are fully assured and see if things move our way,” Sudip Roy Mahato, a member of the Ghaghar Ghera Central Committee and state unit president of one of the Kudmi outfits taking part in the agitation at Khemasuli, said.

“Our agitation may intensify if need be or we may also continue this agitation for an indefinite period,” added another community leader.

Since April 5, more than 500 express and passenger trains, including New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and Howrah-Pune-Howrah Duronto Express, have been cancelled by the railways due to the blockade. Many other trains have been short-terminated or diverted.

The situation on the adjacent NH-6 is equally bad with a large number of trucks and vehicles left stranded on the highway due to the blockade.

Rajesh Mahato on Sunday said that to ease the situation, the national highway be blocked from 6 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 1 am till they decide on the next decision.

He, however, added that their agitation would continue.

To press their demand, Kudmis had first resorted to rail and road blockades in West Bengal and neighbouring states on September 20, 2022. The 123-hour-long blockade at Kustaur and Khemasuli stations last September also had continued for several days, affecting train services in Kharagpur and Adra divisions.