Ranchi, September 19: The Ranchi Railway Division is on high alert ahead of the “Rail Teka Dahar Chheka” agitation called by the Kudmi community on September 20. The railway administration has drawn up a detailed action plan to handle any emergency situation, with passenger safety being the top priority.
Ahead of the agitation, RPF Commandant Pawan Kumar said that the railways and police are working jointly to ensure law and order. “Passengers will not be allowed to face any inconvenience. Protesters will not be permitted to block tracks or harass travelers,” Kumar told Etv Bharat.
One of the major concern is the possibility of track blockades at several stations and to prevent such disruptions, additional forces have been deployed at sensitive points including Muri, Barkakana, Gaddi, Parasnath, Chandrapura and other stations. Along with RPF and GRP personnel, local police and administrative teams will also remain on the ground.
Also, all divisional control rooms are put on alert and real-time monitoring arrangements have been made to respond quickly to any disturbance. Station masters have been instructed to remain vigilant and report incidents immediately, following which a rapid response team will be dispatched.
Railways has issued special guidelines to safeguard passengers and ensure normal train operations. Though no call has yet been taken to cancel or divert trains by South Eastern Railway however, such measures will be considered if needed in the interest of safety. The railway administration has also appealed the passengers not to panic and to travel as per schedule.
Meanwhile, Ranchi district administration has imposed prohibitory orders around key railway stations like Muri, Silli, Khalari, and Tatisilwey from 8 pm on September 19 to 8 am on September 21. The orders ban gatherings of five or more people, carrying weapons, and holding protests, rallies, or public meetings within a 300-meter radius of the station premises.
Officials said intelligence inputs suggest Kudmi organizations plan to disrupt train services on September 20 as part of their demand for Scheduled Tribe status and recognition of the Kurmali language in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
