Kurmi Community Plans Indefinite Rail Blockade Demand for ST Status, DGP Orders Heightened Vigilance

In Jharkhand, the Kurmi community has announced plans for an indefinite “rail roko” (rail blockade) agitation, demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status across regions including Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. The agitation, expected to begin shortly, has triggered concerns of disruptions to rail services and public safety. In response, the Director General of Police (DGP) has instructed the state police forces to stay alert and ensure preventive measures to maintain law and order. State authorities say the demands of the Kurmi community stem from longstanding grievances concerning economic disadvantage, lack of reserved rights in education and jobs, and social recognition. Community leaders argue that recognizing Kurmis as ST would open doors to affirmative action, government benefits, and greater inclusion in state welfare programs. They emphasize that many Kurmi families in remote blocks feel neglected in terms of basic services and infrastructure. Police officials have begun mapping potential sensitive zones—especially near railway tracks, major junctions, and border areas adjacent to Odisha and West Bengal. Deployment is being planned in coordination with railway authorities to handle expected obstructions. Railway officials have also been briefed to prepare contingency plans, rerouting trains if needed and using alternative transportation for stranded passengers. The administration has also held meetings with local Kurmi representatives, urging them to present their demands through dialogue rather than disruption. Meanwhile, civil society groups in the region are calling for political mediation and transparent studies into the Kurmi population to assess eligibility for ST status. Experts warn that hasty classification without proper demographic and socio-economic data could lead to legal challenges. In parallel, the government has instructed district magistrates and superintendents of police in Jharkhand to strengthen community engagement and mountain outreach—for example organizing public meetings in villages where Kurmi communities are concentrated. Local media outlets report mixed reactions: some believe the agitation is justified, while others express concern about economic losses and inconvenience to commuters. With elections on the horizon, political parties are also watching the issue closely. Kurmi leaders allege that successive governments have ignored their pleas. The government, on its part, is weighing legal, constitutional, and administrative implications of any classification change. The DGP’s vigilance notice, senior officials say, is aimed not just at preventing chaos, but ensuring that any potential protest remains peaceful, lawful, and does not harm innocents.