SER strengthens security to counter Kurmi rail blockade
The Statesman | 21 September 2025The members of the Kurmi community had submitted memorandums to the railways announcing their intention to organise an indefinite rail and road blockade at different stations of South Eastern Railway tomorrow from 5 a.m. in support of the demands for early inclusion of the Kurmi community in the Scheduled Tribe list. However, the Calcutta High Court yesterday ordered the Bengal government and Indian Railways to take joint efforts to prevent hampering of road and railway traffic by the proposed agitation by Kurmi community blocking roads and tracks.
Anticipating a huge impact on train operations for non-railway related issues, the zonal railway along with the state government has planned some precautionary security measures. The IG-cum-chief security commissioner of the SER has written a letter to the state chief secretary, director general of police and director general of government railway police of West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand to maintain law and order. A virtual meeting was also held with DGP of Jharkhand on the issue. The SER has identified 52 sensitive stations, as protest locations and decided to strengthen RPF and GRP deployment at those places over the zonal railway. Quick reaction teams (QRTs) have also been formed to respond to any attempt of unlawful obstruction of trains or tracks.
The authorities have set up coordination cells with district magistrates and superintendents of police of affected districts for real-time information sharing and joint action while patrolling of tracks, yards, and station areas have been intensified to prevent sabotage or unauthorised entry onto railway premises.
The zonal railway has decided to do close monitoring of social media and intelligence inputs for advance warning of mobilisation. As learnt from the SER office, emergency control rooms have been activated at divisional headquarters to ensure round-the-clock monitoring and communication.
In connection with the memorandum submitted by the Adivasi Kurmi Samaj, South Eastern Railway authorities have written a reply informing them about all the negative consequences which are likely to happen in case of proposed rail blockade. The security wings from each division have also alerted the Kudmi Samaj that Railway Protection Force (RPF) is authorised to take action against the protestors including arrest and prosecution.
The zonal railway issuing a Press statement pointed out, “As it is also clarified that the agitation is being organized on non-railway related demands, Railway authority urges the Kudmi Samaj to express their views through constitutional and democratic means, rather than disrupting train operations which form the lifeline of essential passenger and freight movement in the region.”
