Railway erects wall closing 80-year-old road in Kharagpur; Sparks violent protests and police action

In Kharagpur, the railway authorities have permanently closed an 80-year-old road by constructing a wall across it. This road connects the area between the South DRM’s bungalow and the Officers’ Club directly to Jhapatpur. The road has been in use for many decades by local residents, including children attending two nearby schools where railway employees’ children study. The closure was initially said to be temporary for repair work but was made permanent on Friday when the railway built a wall blocking the road.

On Saturday, local women protested against the closure by attempting to break the wall using spades and sticks. The protest led to a confrontation with the police, who used batons to control and disperse the crowd. Ward 17 councilor Rohan Das visited the site during the unrest. Local residents stated that the road has been an essential passage for people in the area for a long time and opposed the permanent closure.

The railway officials maintain that the area is under their jurisdiction and that closing the road is their right. The incident has caused tension in the neighborhood since the wall was erected, affecting the daily movement of residents and students. Police continued to maintain law and order in the area following the protest.