Ranchi/Kolkata/Guwahati
The dawn-to-dusk road and rail blockades by the Adivasi Sengel Abhiyan (ASA) in Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and West Bengal saw train services in particular getting affected in the five States. Road services were also hit in some districts. Hundreds of passengers were stranded after the Railways either cancelled trains or the railway tracks were blocked by the protestors.
The ASA, led by Salkhan Murmu, called for the blockade in the five eastern states of the country on February 11 (Saturday) over a number of issues including staking its claim to the Parasnath Hills in Giridih district of Jharkhand and recognition of Sarna as a religion in the next Census.
February 11 is the birth anniversary of Tilka Majhi who is first freedom fighter from the Santhal community to take up arms against the British.
ASA launched “Marang Buru Bachao Yatra” on January 17 in these five states to assert its rights over the Parasnath Hills, which is also one of the holiest sites of the Jain community known as Shri Sammed Shikharji. The Santhal tribals consider Parasnath Hills as their Marang Buru (Mountain God) and their holiest ‘jeherthan’ (place of worship).
The ASA is also demanding enlisting of Jharkhandi adivasis living in Andaman and Nicobar and Assam for decades in the Scheduled Tribe category. At the same time, we are opposing inclusion of the Kurmi community in the ST category, Murmu said.
The “Marang Buru Bachao Yatra” will end on February 28. Tribals have been demanding that the Parasnath Hills be made a pilgrimage centre for its community too just like that done for the Jains. They also demanded a revocation of the blanket ban on certain activities like animal sacrifice which are part of their customs and religious practices
The tribals’ move follows the Union Environment Ministry’s recent stay on all tourism activities on the Hills and the direction to the Jharkhand Government to strictly enforce the existing ban on sale of liquor, intoxicants and non-vegetarian food in the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary area
