Adivasis block NH 31 with demand for ‘restoration’ of Parasnath Hill to tribals

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, JUNE 15, 2023 : Adivasis holding bows and arrows on Thursday blocked National Highway 31 at Ghoshpukur at the outskirts of Siliguri demanding that the Parasnath Hill be “freed” and a few other demands under ‘Adivasi Senegel Abhiyan’. 

Hundreds of tribal people, members of Adivasi Sengel Campaign Darjeeling District Committee from Phansidewa and Naxalbari blocks turned up on the highway, holding their traditional weapons as a mark of protest against the ‘negligence’ of the government in fulfilling their demands. 

The protesters threatened to launch an aggressive movement in the coming days if their demands were not met soon. 

Their demands include returning the Parasnath hill to tribals, granting scheduled tribe status to adivasis in Andaman and Assam, democratization in Majhi Pargana and the non-inclusion of certain communities in the scheduled tribe list. 

Renuka Mardi, District President of Adivasi Senegel, said that if the government did not decide upon or give assurance on the demands, an important decision would betaken on June30..A large police force was deployed to control the situation. 

After assurances given by police officials including the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Darjeeling, the blockade was lifted and the situation brought under control. Adivasis in Jharkhand had initially started the protest and claimed that the Parasnath Hill was under the control of tribals and that the entire range had been worshipped by them for years. 

The battle to claim the hills as part of their cultural identity has led to a conflict between two communities. Parasnath Hill is considered sacred by two communities that, ironically, differ sharply in diet and customs.

The Adivasis, who comprise 26 per cent of the population of Jharkhand as per Census 2011, worship the Hill as Marang Buru(supreme deity).On the other hand, Sammed Shikharji, one of their most important pilgrimage sites, is located on this hill