Jharkhand Opposition Demands CBI Inquiry Into Tribal Activist Death

Jharkhand Opposition leader Babulal Marandi is demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the death of tribal activist Nisha Kumari Bhagat. Bhagat allegedly took her own life in Ranchi on Friday after streaming a ten-minute video on Facebook where she accused the State government, police, and land mafia of harassment. Mr. Marandi visited Bhagat's family in Gumla district on Saturday to pay his respects. He blamed Chief Minister Hemant Soren directly for the incident and demanded the immediate arrest of Ajay Tirkey and the Pithoria police station officer who were named in the victim's video. During his visit, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader alleged that law and order had collapsed in the State. He claimed that local administration officials including police superintendents and deputy commissioners take orders from middlemen, goons, and land mafias rather than serving the public. Former Rajya Sabha MP Sameer Oraon also spoke out, describing Bhagat as a brave activist who fought to protect tribal lands, forests, and cultural traditions. Mr. Oraon questioned why local police ignored safety complaints made by a tribal woman before her tragic death.

Context

Land disputes and tribal rights protection remain major political issues in Jharkhand, where local communities frequently clash with administrative authorities over resource control. Opposition parties routinely use high-profile tragic events to challenge the ruling administration's record on law enforcement and civil safety.