Kolkata, 22 September (IANS) Police arrested 29 people belonging to the Kurmi community in Purulia district of West Bengal to attack the police during the agitation at Kotshila railway station.
At least six police personnel, including two IPS officers, were injured during violent protests by members of the Kurmi community on Saturday, who blocked the railway track at Kotshila station in Purulia district, demanding the situation of Scheduled Tribes. Some protesters were also injured when the police resorted to a lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Purulia Superintendent of Police Abhijeet Banerjee said that the police had returned to Kotshila station after stopping the agitation.
However, the tribal Kurmi community alleged that the police ruled them of terror in the name of controlling the movement.
According to tribal Kurmi community sources, an anti -terrorism meeting will be held at the taxi stand in Purulia City on 5 October after terror worship. He will also submit a memorandum to DM and SP that day.
Meanwhile, Kotshila station of Adra Division of South Eastern Railway is gradually returning to normal condition after the attack on the police.
Ajit Prasad Mahato, the leader of the tribal Kurmi Samaj in West Bengal, said, “There is widespread police terror on our leaders, workers and supporters. That is why leaders, workers and supporters have taken refuge in various places. An anti -police terrorist meeting at the taxi stand of Purulia City on 5 October.”
On the other hand, Purulia Superintendent of Police Abhijeet Banerjee said, “The situation has been under control since then. There was no blockade anywhere. As a result, no train was stopped. In front of agitators, children and women, stoned us with railway tracks. That is why we were late in action. Many of our police personnel were injured.”
Purulia District Police said that they took action as per the orders of the Calcutta High Court.
On Thursday, a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court upheld its previous order of 2023 and directed the Indian Railway officials to take appropriate action with the West Bengal government, so that the Rail Blockade Movement by the Kurmi community’s people does not affect the normal life in the state on 20 September.
Last month, the tribal Kurmi Samaj, the largest union of the Kurmi community, gave a call for a rail blockade in tribal-prone pockets in three states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha, demanding the status of Scheduled Tribes (ST) for the community.
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