Local Congress activists on Saturday staged a blockade at Dimna Chowk on NH-33, extending support to the nationwide agitation of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella organisation of 40 farmer unions protesting against the three new farm laws.

The blockade which began at noon continued for about an hour before police arrived the spot and dispersed the party activists led by a local leader Manoj Jha.

As a result of the blockade, there was a long queue of stranded vehicles, including trucks, trailers, buses, cars and two-wheelers on either side of the busy highway.

On the call of district president Bijay Khan Congress workers in solidarity with the protesting farmers supported the protest. "We are here to extend support to the cause of farmers. Ambulances and private vehicles carrying elderly persons and women were allowed to go through, " said a party worker.

Congress activists stage a blockade at Dimna Chowk on NH -33 in Jamshedpur on Saturday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

The blockade delayed a Ghatshila-based businessman bound for Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport. "I was scheduled to catch a flight for Delhi from Ranchi in the afternoon. But, I think due to the chakka jam agitation I won't be able to catch the flight," said Vikas Agarwal, a local trader of Ghatshila.

Congress leader Iqbal Ansari, who was participating in the agitation, said the farmers’ agitation had become a global issue but even then, the Union government was not paying heed to their problems.

Farmers in several other parts of the Kolhan region also took part in the “chakka jam” agitation on national and state highways from noon to 3pm in response to the nationwide agitation call.