Date:28/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/28/stories/2008052852400300.htm

New Delhi

Train services hit due to blockades in Jharkhand

Jharkhand Disom Party disrupts life to press its demands

Activists, armed with traditional weapons, squatted on the rail tracks
Official language status for Santhali in Jharkhand among other demands

Jamshedpur: Several long-distance trains were stranded for hours on Tuesday as Jharkhand Disom Party (JDP) activists put up blockades in support of their demands including official language status be accorded to Santhali language in Jharkhand.

JDP activists, armed with traditional weapons, have been squatted on the rail track at Lotapahar Station in West Singhbhum district under Chakradharpur division of South Eastern Railway since 6-30 a.m. and the blockade is still on, railway sources said.

Eight passenger trains including long distance ones and 10 goods trains plying between Tatanagar and Rourkela on Howrah-Mumbai route were detained at various stations as the agitators refused to pay heed to the official’s plea to move.

The Howrah-bound Geetanjali Express, Alleppy-Tata Express and Ahmedabad-Howrah express were detained at Rourkela and Manoharpur stations, Puri-Haridwar Utkal Express was detained at Tatanagar Station, the sources said.

Several other passengers trains were being regulated.

JDP called rail and road blockades in seven States including West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh and Assam, JDP chief Salkhan Murmu said.

The tribal related demands included enlisting of over 80 lakhs tribals living in Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands in the Scheduled Tribe category, panchayat election, domicile and reservation policy, he said.

JDP Mahila Morcha leader Premsila Murmu said the party put up road blockades at tribal-dominated Raghoi and Janebeda in Chakradharpur in Jharkhand. -- PTI