The Adivasi Kurmi Samaj has announced that it will stage fresh protests in West Bengal’s Purulia district on September 25, days after clashes with police at Kotshila railway station on Saturday. The Kurmi community has revived its long-standing demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status by blocking railway tracks and roads in several parts of the State ahead of the Assembly elections.
In Purulia, the protests turned violent as Kurmi leaders and community members scuffled with police. Stones were reportedly pelted, while the police baton-charged demonstrators and used tear gas. A large contingent of the Rapid Action Force was also deployed. Several police officials and journalists were injured.
