DYFI activists storm Palakkad DRM office in Keralam over railway bifurcation move
The Railway Board’s decision to bifurcate the Palakkad Railway Division has triggered widespread protests across Keralam
On Monday, August 24, 2026, activists from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) stormed the Divisional Railway Manager’s (DRM) office in Palakkad, India, in protest over the bifurcation of the Palakkad Railway Division and the relocation of stations, including Mangaluru, to the Mysuru division. The protest, organized by the youth wing of the CPI(M), began around 8 am when the activists reached the gates of the DRM’s office.
Despite the police and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel blocking the protesters, some managed to scale the compound wall and reach the main entrance of the office building. Additional authorities were subsequently deployed at the entrance to deter further entry of the protesters. The protesters, including women, staged a sit-in in front of the entrance, vociferously opposing the proposed bifurcation.
This decision has sparked widespread protests in Kerala, with the Youth Congress announcing a protest march in Palakkad on Monday and Congress MPs planning a hunger strike in front of the Palakkad divisional railway office on Onam day. The protesters claimed that the bifurcation would negatively impact the revenue of the Palakkad division, a significant portion of which originates from goods transported via the Mangaluru port.
However, BJP leaders in Kerala defended the move, asserting that it would not hinder railway development in the State.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
