Tribal organisations staged a major protest in Ranchi on Wednesday against the construction of a flyover ramp near Sarna Sthal, a sacred site revered by tribal communities in Jharkhand. The protest focused on the Siramtoli-Mecon flyover project, which protesters say threatens the sanctity of the holy grove.
The demonstration took place in the Tatisilwai area of rural Ranchi, and tribal groups called for a bandh (shutdown) to voice their demands, urging the government to relocate the ramp away from the Sarna Sthal at Siramtoli.
In response to the bandh, security was heightened in Ranchi to prevent any untoward incidents.
BJP leader Pratul Shah Deo criticised the Hemant Soren-led state government, accusing it of neglecting the sentiments of the tribal community. “This government claims to represent tribals, yet the tribal community is out on the streets protesting. The Chief Minister has forgotten his ‘Raj-Dharma’. He must meet the protestors and resolve this issue,” said Deo.
This is not the first time tribal groups have opposed the project. Similar demonstrations were held in March, during which protestors burned tyres and blocked roads.
The Sarna Sthal holds deep spiritual and cultural importance for Jharkhand’s tribal communities. These sacred groves are natural worship sites where devotees perform rituals and offer prayers to deities associated with nature and the forest.
Tribal leaders have reiterated their demand for the preservation of the site, stressing that infrastructure development must not come at the cost of their religious and cultural identity.
