Tribals gather in Giridih, demand freeing of Parasnath hills from Jains

A large number of tribals on Tuesday assembled near the Parasnath hills in Jharkhand's Giridih district, urging the state government and the Centre to free their holy site from the "clutches" of the Jain community.

They also warned of severe agitation if their demand was not met.

Thousands of tribals from Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha reached the hills earlier in the day, carrying traditional weapons and beating drums.


"'Marang Buru' (Parasnath) is the birthright of Jharkhand's tribals, and no power in the world can deprive them of this right," a member of the Jharkhand Bachao Morcha', which claims to be an outfit of over 50 bodies, asserted on Tuesday.

It said that thousands of adivasis will observe a day's fast on January 30 at Ulihatu in Khunti district, the birthplace of tribal icon Birsa Munda.