Ranchi: The Jharkhand BJP on Friday submitted a memorandum to Governor Santosh Kumar Gangwar, demanding a CBI investigation into what it termed the “fake encounter” of tribal activist Surya Hansda in Godda. The delegation was led by state party chief Babulal Marandi.
According to the BJP, Hansda was arrested from his Deoghar residence on August 10 but was later shown as killed in an encounter in Mahagama, Godda, the next day. The memorandum noted that although 24 cases were registered against him, he had been acquitted in 14, and no court had ever declared him a criminal. His family claimed he was in poor health and had been undergoing treatment at the time of detention.
The BJP alleged that the incident reflected collusion between the police and political interests, as Hansda was known for his activism against illegal mining. The party demanded a CBI inquiry, protection for his family, and accountability in the case.
The memorandum also protested the acquisition of farmland in Nagdi, Ranchi, for the upcoming RIMS-II hospital. The BJP alleged that fertile agricultural land was taken without proper consent or compensation, and that police action — including lathi charge and tear gas — was used against protesting farmers on August 24. The party described the crackdown as an “attack on tribal identity and farmers’ interests.”
While affirming its support for the hospital project, the BJP urged that it be built on barren land instead and demanded withdrawal of police cases filed against farmers.
The delegation included senior leaders such as MP Aditya Prasad Sahu and MLAs C.P. Singh and Naveen Jaiswal.
With inputs from IANS