Which of the following statement (s) is/are correct about the Paharias?

Statement A) The life of the Paharias was intimately connected to the forest.
Statement B) Their chiefs maintained the unity of the group, settled disputes, and led the tribe in battles with other tribes and plains people.
Statement C) Paharias never raided the plains where settled agriculturists lived.

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

Statements A and B are correct.

The correct answer is Option 1 - Statements A and B are correct.

Given statements:

Statement A) The life of the Paharias was intimately connected to the forest. (Correct)
Statement B) Their chiefs maintained the unity of the group, settled disputes, and led the tribe in battles with other tribes and plains people. (Correct)
Statement C) Paharias never raided the plains where settled agriculturists lived.

CORRECTION in Statement C) Paharias regularly raided the plains where settled agriculturists lived.

The life of the Paharias – as hunters, shifting cultivators, food gatherers, charcoal producers, silkworm rearers – was thus intimately connected to the forest. They lived in hutments within tamarind groves, and rested in the shade of mango trees. They considered the entire region as their land, the basis of their identity as well as survival; and they resisted the intrusion of outsiders. Their chiefs maintained the unity of the group, settled disputes, and led the tribe in battles with other tribes and plainspeople. With their base in the hills, the Paharias regularly raided the plains where settled agriculturists lived. These raids were necessary for survival, particularly in years of scarcity; they were a way of asserting power over settled communities; and they were a means of negotiating political relations with outsiders. The zamindars on the plains had to often purchase peace by paying a regular tribute to the hill chiefs. Traders similarly gave a small amount to the hill folk for permission to use the passes controlled by them. Once the toll was paid, the Paharia chiefs protected the traders, ensuring that their goods were not plundered by anyone.