The Kudmi community’s five-day rail and road blockade in West Bengal came to an end on Sunday evening as protesters lifted the rail blockade and partially withdrew the blockade on the National Highway-6 connecting Kolkata and Mumbai. The Kudmis, classified as an Other Backward Class (OBC), have been agitating for various demands, including recognition as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) and inclusion of their Kudmali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The agitation and rail blockade, which began on April 5 at Kustaur station in Adra Division and Khemasuli station in Kharagpur Division of South Eastern Railway, were withdrawn. The blockade at Kotshila station, which began on April 9, was also withdrawn. The five-day blockade had paralyzed rail and road traffic, leading to the cancellation of over 500 trains and leaving traffic stranded on NH-6.
The first sign of the blockade’s withdrawal came from Kustaur railway station in Purulia district, where Kudmi leader Ajit Mahato, who was leading the protests, announced that they were withdrawing the agitation for the time being. However, the protest at Khemasuli in Paschim Medinipur district continued. The Kudmi community had blocked the National Highway since April 5, and they wanted the ST status back for their community. The protest’s intensity may increase if necessary, according to a community leader.
Since April 5, the railways have canceled over 500 express and passenger trains, including the New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and Howrah-Pune-Howrah Duronto Express, due to the blockade. Many other trains have been short-terminated or diverted. The adjacent NH-6 has also been severely impacted, with a large number of trucks and vehicles left stranded due to the blockade. Rajesh Mahato suggested that to ease the situation, the national highway should be blocked from 6 am to 10 am and 3 pm to 1 am until they decide on their next move. However, he added that their agitation would continue.