GG News Bureu
Purulia, West Bengal, 20th Sept: The Kurmi community’s protest demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) status erupted into violence at Kotshila railway station on Saturday afternoon, despite heavy police deployment.
According to officials, the day began peacefully, but around 4 p.m. thousands of agitators broke through barricades, crossed the railway tracks and stormed platform number two. Police attempts to restrain the crowd failed, prompting baton charges and the firing of tear gas shells. Protesters retaliated with intense stone pelting, injuring several policemen and damaging station property, including the railway help desk.
Purulia Superintendent of Police Abhijit Bandyopadhyay said additional forces were rushed in to restore order. “A large number of people pelted stones using railway track ballast, injuring many of our personnel. Several agitators have been taken into custody. The situation is now under control,” he stated.
The unrest follows Thursday’s Calcutta High Court verdict declaring the Kurmi community’s planned September 20 rail and road blockade “unconstitutional and illegal.” The agitation, aimed at pressing the demand for ST status, was challenged in court by the Purulia Chamber of Trade and Industry.
After the ruling, the Purulia District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police had jointly appealed to residents to avoid the protest, warning of strict legal action against violators. Police said they had made full preparations to prevent disruptions, but the sudden flare-up caught authorities off guard.
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