Jamshedpur, Oct. 31: A group of tribals took to the streets today to protest against desecration of a yet-to-be inaugurated statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda in Mango, Jamshedpur.

Around 100 angry people assembled in front of Ulidih police station around 11.30am and demonstrated for over an hour for the alleged insult to their revered tribal leader.

Members of Adivasi Munda Samaj from other parts of the city, including Sitaramdera and Birsanagar, also joined the protest and demanded immediate arrest of those involved into the incident.

The nearly 7-feet-long statue installed at Adivasi High School grounds near Ulidih Main Road was supposed to be inaugurated by former chief minister and senior BJP leader Arjun Munda on the Statehood Day on November 15 that also marks the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.

"Some rogue elements have damaged the lower portion of the bow in the left hand of Birsa Bhagwan and desecrated the face of the statue. Some elderly people noticed the damages this morning and informed us," said Santosh Samant, a local resident and a member of Adivasi Munda Samaj.

Samant said that some drunken youths used to gather at the grounds at night regularly. "We had lodged complaints with the police a couple of times earlier, asking them to stop the assembly of these youths at the grounds, but to no avail," he added.

The tribals withdrew their protest after OC Kamlesh Paswan promised to intensify patrolling in the area.

However, members of the Adivasi Samaj threatened to protest tomorrow again if the police failed to arrest the culprits.

"We have demanded police to repair the damages because they did not act on our earlier complaints. Had they stopped the assembly of drunken youths, the incident could have been averted," Samant added.

According to members of Adivasi Munda Samaj, the main frame of the statue has already been completed and a boundary wall is being constructed to protect the statue.