INDIGENOUS ANGER: Tribal protesters, many with traditional weapons, at Morabadi, Ranchi, on Thursday.Over 10,000 people from 32 tribal communities were up in arms against Kurmi and Teli communities wanting to be included in the Scheduled Tribe list. The government is learnt to be considering this proposal, too.

So far, Kurmis and Telis are found in the Other Backward Class category.However, tribals have been fuming that if the change takes place, there will be more contenders for ST benefits.

Former minister from United Bihar era Deo Kumar Dhan, who led the three-hour mega rally from 2pm, said real tribals would be deprived of their rights if Teli and Kurmi communities got the ST tag.

Other major issues were the lack of a separate Sarna code in the census and fears that tribal land was being given to private companies in the name of development.National general secretary of Sarna Prarthana Sabha, Praveen Oraon, said, "Both Hindus and Christians want to attract the Sarnas. A separate Sarna column in the census will preserve the identity of the Sarna people." (Prashant Mitra)