West Bengal tribals block national highway

Mednipur (WB), June 9 (ANI): Tribals in Medinipur district of West Bengal gathered in large numbers at Lalgarh on Monday and blocked the National Highway 6, connecting the state capital Kolkata with Mumbai.

Under the banner of People's Coordination Committee against Police Atrocities, the tribals said that they had resorted to this blockade as a matter of protest against the discrimination of administration and the police towards their community members.

The agitating tribals said that police officials harassed and beat up 40 tribal women, who had gone to Kolkata on June 5 to attend a meeting of women council and to highlight how tribals in Jharkhand are being harassed.

Chhatradhar Mahato, Secretary, People's Coordination Committee against Police Atrocities, said that the Kolkata Police had denied permission to the committee to hold a meeting and rally in the city.

He also said that all these were cases of discrimination against the marginalised tribals.

"The police harassed and beat up 40 women. Against such police atrocities, we have blocked the roads and our agitation will go on till the authorities stop discrimination against us," Mahato added.

The indefinite road blockade has resulted in detention of all trucks and other vehicles plying on the National Highway 6, popularly known as Bombay Road.

Meanwhile, authorities apprehend that if the trucks remain stuck on the Kolkata-Mumbai highway, the prices of basic commodities would rise in Kolkata and suburbs. (ANI)