BJP Demands CBI Probe in Surya Hansda Killing

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation, led by state president Babulal Marandi, met Jharkhand Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar at Raj Bhavan in Ranchi to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the controversial death of tribal leader Surya Hansda. The BJP labeled the incident, which occurred on August 11, 2025, in Godda district, as a "planned murder" disguised as a police encounter, alleging a sinister conspiracy involving the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led state government. The delegation also urged an immediate halt to the construction of the proposed RIMS-II hospital in Nagdi, Ranchi, citing concerns over the acquisition of fertile tribal land.

In a strongly worded memorandum, the BJP claimed that Hansda, a prominent socio-political activist, was unjustly targeted. Arrested from his relative’s home in Nawadih village, Deoghar, on August 10, Hansda was reportedly killed the next day in Lalmatia, Mahagama, under suspicious circumstances. The party highlighted that Hansda, who suffered from typhoid and had recently returned from treatment in Vellore, was neither medically examined nor presented before a court after his arrest. The memorandum accused the police of acting under political pressure, pointing fingers at a close aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren in his Barhet constituency for orchestrating the alleged fake encounter.

Hansda, who contested the Borio assembly seat four times, including in 2019 on a BJP ticket, was described by the party as a champion of tribal rights, opposing illegal mining, land grabs, and exploitation. Despite 24 criminal cases against him, 14 of which resulted in acquittals, the BJP argued that Hansda was not a criminal but a dedicated social worker who ran a school for underprivileged tribal children in Lalmatia. The party condemned the police narrative, asserting that labeling him a “dreaded criminal” undermines the justice system and democratic values.

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The delegation’s demands have gained traction following the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) seeking a report from Jharkhand Police, prompted by a complaint from BJP MP Deepak Prakash. The BJP’s accusations have fueled protests, including disruptions in the Jharkhand Assembly, as the opposition continues to press for accountability. The state government has assigned the investigation to the Crime Investigation Department (CID), but the BJP insists only a CBI probe can uncover the truth.

Additionally, the BJP raised concerns about the RIMS-II hospital project, alleging that the acquisition of fertile land in Nagdi threatens the livelihoods of hundreds of tribal farmers. The party criticized the government’s use of force against protesting farmers on August 24, 2025, demanding the withdrawal of police cases against them and a shift of the project to barren land. The controversy surrounding Hansda’s death and the land dispute has intensified political tensions, with the BJP vowing to escalate the issue to protect tribal rights and ensure justice.

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