Title - 7-hour ordeal for train passengers

RANCHI: Train services on the 1,532 km Howrah-Delhi mainline were disrupted when over 5000 villagers of the Melar community in Jamtara district blocked the railway lines demanding inclusion of their caste into the scheduled tribe category. The blockade, which continued for 7 hours from 5am to 12 noon, delayed almost all the trains, which run on the important railway line.

The Howrah-Delhi mainline passes through Dhanbad, Jasidih and Chittaranjan station, which is situated on the Jharkhand-West Bengal border. The blockade was held on the railway lines at Bodma Halt, situated between Jamtara and Chittaranjan railway stations.

Jamtara DC Chandra Shekhar said, "The villagers were demanding inclusion of their caste in the scheduled tribe category. The blockade was removed in the afternoon. The agitating villagers were pacified through dialogues after a meeting."

It was lifted after the intervention of the DC and SP, who held extensive talks with the agitators. The DC has assured the agitators help in taking the matter to the governor.

Jamtara railway station master Narayan Prasad said the stranded trains were given clearance for movement after the blockade was lifted.

The blockade was carried out under the aegis of Melar Aadim Jan Jaati Sangarh Morcha (AJJSM). The agitators had arrived from Dumka, Dhanbad, Giridih and various blocks of Jamtara. Birendra Singh Melar, the general secretary of AJJSM, claimed that the government was indifferent to the problems of the Melar community.

"The authorities have divided us into various castes through various censuses conducted over the years. In 1938, we were considered tribals and the name of our caste figured in the tribal list. Now we are being treated as other backward class (OBC)," said Melar.

Patna-Howrah Janshatabdi Express, Lal Quila Express, Howrah-Delhi Janta Express, South Bihar Express, Kathgodam to Kolkata Howrah Bagh Express, Danapur-Howrah Express, Amritsar-Howrah, and several other mail and express trains were delayed by several hours. Thousands of passengers travelling in these trains were stranded.

The agitation has been on for several years now. Under the aegis of AJJSM, a delegation had submitted their demands to the chief minister secretariat when Arjun Munda was the chief minister. "The secretary of the personnel department had promised to look into the matter in March 2012. It has been a year and no progress has been made so far," said Damodar Singh Melar, the president of AJJSM.

In March, 2012, AJJSM-led-villagers had blocked NH-2 in Dhanbad disrupting vehicular traffic. "The DC has assured us that he will make us meet the governor," said AJJSM president