'Rail roko' agitation disrupts train services in 5 districts

KOLKATA: Train services were affected at the rail tracks spanning across five districts of the state bearing the brunt of the 'rail roko' agitation that was called by two tribal parties, namely the Jharkhand Disam Party and the Adivasi Sengal Abhiyan.

It may be mentioned that the organisations were protesting against the Centre and Jharkhand Government's decision to implement the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Jharkhand Amendment Bill), 2017 and the Jharkhand Freedom of Religion Act-2017.

The Adra division in Purulia was the worst affected with the agitators encroaching on the railway tracks at Kantadih, Madhukunda and Indrabil that threw train services haywire causing delay in arrival and departure of trains in the state.

Rail services were mainly affected between Adra in Purulia and Bankura district and Tatanagar station railway junction in Jharkhand. The other districts which bore the brunt were Malda, Uttar Dinajpur and East Burdwan.

The call for 'rail roko' started from 6:00 am at various stations and was lifted after almost six hours. Several trains including the Rajdhani Express was held up around 6:20 am at Jhatiphari railway station in Bankura district. Later, the Rajdhani and Purushottam Express were diverted through alternative routes. As many as 10 passenger trains were cancelled. Dense fog in North Bengal has resulted in delay of trains for the last few days. 'Rail roko' agitation fuelled the situation.

Both state police and the Railway Protection Force were deployed at various stations to control the agitation by the tribal outfits.

The agitators were protesting against the amendments made to the Bill on land acquisition which states that land can be taken away from adivasis without making any assessment on the significant social impact of the project in case of building a school, college or hospital.