Surface transport and business activities in parts of south Bengal’s Purulia, Bakura, West Medinipur and parts of Bardhaman districts were affected following a 12-hour
“Chakka Jam” called by the Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal, a common platform of tribal
people, began at 0600 hours on Wednesday.
The tribal people, dressed in traditional clothings and beating of the drums, put up blockades on different highways connecting the Jangalmahal districts disrupting traffic and businesses demanding
introduction of Santali study curriculum in the state education board and conceding other economic demands.
However, there had been no untowards incidents reported so far from the bandh bound areas.
The blockade also disrupted traffic to and from neighbouring Jharkhand and Odisha, sources
added.
The blockade also affected economic activities in the tribal dominated Hooghly district, entire West Midnapore, Bankura, Purulia, and Birbhum as well as part of north Bengal districts.
In a statement the Bharat Jakat Majhi Pargana Mahal said that they were forced to call the dawn to dusk chakka jam owing to alleged the non-fulfillment of their demands raised by the community for a long time.
The demands include cancellation of the open pit coal mine at Deucha Pachami in Birbhum.
a separate Santhali Education Board should be constituted, permanent teachers and assistant teachers should be appointed immediately in Saotali medium schools.
The other demands are the strict implementation of Forest Rights Act, establishment of Saotali medium colleges in every district of West Bengal.
