Kurmi stir hits train services for 2nd day

Train services of South Eastern Railway (SER) in several parts of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha were hit for the second consecutive day as members of Kurmali or Kurmi tribe continued with their rail blockade agitation, demanding the Scheduled Tribe status and the inclusion of Kurmali language in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.

The blockades at Khemasuli in Paschim Medinipur district and Kustaur in Purulia district, which began at 4 am on Tuesday, continued on Wednesday, while agitators lifted blockades at other railway stations by Tuesday evening, said an SER official. The stir caused cancellation, diversion and short-termination of several express and passenger trains on Wednesday as well, the official said.