Overview

• Indian Railways said operations of more than 46 trains in South Eastern Railway were regulated, with Vande Bharat and Duronto services among those stalled, cancelled, diverted or short-terminated.
• Sit-ins on tracks were reported at Rai, Muri, Tatisilwai, Mesra, Parasnath and Chandrapura in Jharkhand, with brief blockades in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj and knock-on delays in West Bengal.
• Authorities invoked BNSS Section 163 near key stations and deployed police, RPF, drones, CCTV and extra forces to safeguard passengers and infrastructure.
• Organisers insisted on a peaceful protest, though clashes were reported at Pradhankhunta in Dhanbad and some leaders were reportedly detained in West Bengal.
• The agitation centres on demands for Scheduled Tribe status and Eighth Schedule recognition for Kurmali, with support declared by AJSU and MLAs including Jairam Mahato and Tiwari Mahto.