For the second time in less than a week, around 2,000 tribal under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad (ABAVP) took out protest marches and held demonstrations across Ranchi district on Tuesday to press for their demand of a Sarna code ahead of the 2021 census.

The protests led to traffic bottlenecks in the capital at several places at different points of time despite the district administration’s ban on protests and dharnas in the wake of ongoing covid-19 pandemic.

Tribals form a human chain to demand a Sarna code at Albert Ekka Chowk in Ranchi on Tuesday. Manob Chowdhary

With shoppers too out on the streets ahead of Durga Puja, the protests led to disruption of traffic at Main Road, Piska More, Ratu Road, among a few other places as rallyists, comprising men and women, marched with banners and posters.

Representatives of various Sarna committees hand over commemorative letters to chief minister Hemant Soren at Project Bhawan in Ranchi on Tuesday. Manob Chowdhary

Senior Congress leader and former minister Geetashree Oraon, who is the president of ABAVP, said they wanted the state government to pass a resolution in favour of their demands in the Assembly and forward it to the Centre prior to the upcoming winter session.

Tribals under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad march through Ratu Road in Ranchi on Tuesday. Manob Chowdhary

“Tribals want Sarna code and we won’t sit calmly till we get this before the next census in 2021. Sarna code is key to our distinct identity and recognition. Tribals are neither Hindus nor Christians or Muslims but have a separate identity,” she said, adding that they planned to further intensify their protests in coming days until the state government agreed to their demand.