Ranchi
The death of tribal activist Nisha Kumari Bhagat has taken a serious turn, with her father Handu Bhagat alleging that his daughter was murdered as part of a well-planned conspiracy and demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the circumstances surrounding her death.
In a written complaint submitted to the officer-in-charge of Pithoria police station, Handu Bhagat alleged that his daughter had been subjected to prolonged mental and social harassment, character assassination on social media and attempts to implicate her in false cases. He rejected the theory of suicide and demanded an FIR against all those named in her final social media broadcast, specifically seeking stringent action against Ajay Tirkey and Jyotsna Kerketta.
The application was received by Pithoria police station Sub-Inspector Sunil Kumar Das. The father has also sought an investigation into the alleged involvement of people connected with land dealings and others whom he accused of harassing his daughter.
According to the complaint, Nisha was allegedly subjected to humiliation and intimidation not only on social media but also while moving outside her residence. Her father claimed that repeated allegations against her character and attempts to damage her social standing had caused her considerable mental distress.
He urged the police to examine her final Facebook Live broadcast, investigate every person named in it and establish the circumstances that led to her death. He maintained that the allegations made by his daughter before her death should form an important basis of the investigation.
Speaking to ANI, Handu Bhagat said: “The very same people are responsible: the state government. FIRs have been registered against those whose names have surfaced, including those mentioned during the Facebook Live sessions. We demand a CBI investigation. We want the administration to apprehend the culprits through this probe; this would boost the morale of others who aspire to work vocally for the betterment of society.
“Jharkhand is a tribal-dominated state, yet tribal lands and properties are being plundered rapidly, while the Hemant Soren government remains a mere spectator. Such a government has no moral right to exist.”
“Nisha was fighting against land mafias, middlemen, and corrupt individuals. She was working toward a new vision for the upliftment of society and the state; she sought the state’s resurgence. Had the administration provided support in time, we would not be witnessing such a day. She endured severe torture, torture so intense that it broke the spirit of such a courageous, sharp, and spirited young woman. What appeal could one possibly make to the Chief Minister? The entire state is in an uproar. Although Nisha Bhagat was our daughter, the people of the state have embraced her as their own and have joined the struggle,” he added.
Death After Facebook Live, No Suicide Note Recovered
Nisha (38) was found dead at her rented accommodation in the Pithoria police station area of Ranchi on Friday, shortly after broadcasting an emotional Facebook Live session lasting nearly 10 minutes.
In the video, she was seen crying and speaking about alleged harassment, land brokers, police inaction and her struggle for Adivasi rights. She accused the Hemant Soren government and people allegedly involved in land dealings of making it dangerous to raise one’s voice against them.
During the livestream, she also telephoned the Pithoria police station officer-in-charge, reportedly informing him that she was live on Facebook and would take her life. She questioned why a robbery at her residence had not been solved and why those allegedly harassing her had not been identified or apprehended. The officer reportedly disconnected the call after she informed him about the livestream. Police subsequently reached the residence and took her to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where she was declared dead. Her body was later sent for post-mortem examination.
Ranchi Rural SP Gaurav Goswami said an unnatural death (UD) case had been registered and no suicide note was recovered from her room. He added that all aspects of the case were being investigated and the police would reach a conclusion after completing the probe.
The post-mortem findings, the circumstances of her death, the contents of her final video and the allegations made by her father are expected to be important in establishing what happened. The police have yet to publicly establish whether the death was a suicide or involved any criminal conspiracy.
Last Rites In Gumla, Tribal Community Demands Justice
Nisha’s mortal remains will be cremated at her ancestral village Uru in Gumla district on Saturday. Her death has triggered considerable anger and grief among members of the Adivasi community and social organisations.
According to PTI, Devendra Lal Oraon, a local Oraon tribal leader in Gumla, said a meeting was held on Saturday, where community members decided to stage a symbolic protest before her last rites. Leaders of opposition parties were also expected to visit Gumla to pay their respects.
Meanwhile, youths staged a road blockade near the Nagri checkpost, demanding a CBI investigation into her death. The protests reflect growing demands within sections of the tribal community for an independent investigation and accountability.
The CPI(ML) Liberation, an ally of the ruling government, has also called for a fair investigation, indicating that demands for an impartial probe are not confined to the opposition.
BJP Intensifies Attack, JMM Promises Action Against Guilty
Nisha’s death has triggered a political confrontation in Jharkhand, with the BJP accusing the Hemant Soren government and the police administration of failing to protect her despite her repeated allegations of harassment.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo rejected the suicide narrative, alleging that systematic harassment and sustained pressure had driven Nisha to her death. He pointed to her final Facebook Live broadcast, in which she spoke about her struggles and allegedly identified individuals and authorities responsible for targeting her campaign against religious conversions.
Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi had earlier held Chief Minister Hemant Soren, the Pithoria police station in-charge and Ajay Tirkey responsible for the circumstances surrounding her death. He demanded the immediate arrest of those named by Nisha, an impartial investigation and a CBI probe. He also called upon the Chief Minister to resign, alleging that the government was protecting land brokers and mafias.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh strongly condemned the incident, describing Bhagat as a fearless Adivasi daughter who had fought for tribal land and the rights of women. He accused the state government of administrative failure and questioned the silence of senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi over the incident.
However, the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has sought to distance itself from any suggestion of shielding the guilty. Party leader Manoj Pandey expressed grief over Nisha’s death, describing her as a talented Adivasi woman whose future had been cut short.
Pandey said political criticism was legitimate in a democracy and assured that the government would spare no guilty individual. He promised that an impartial investigation would bring out the facts within a few days.
Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth had also expressed grief over the incident, accusing the government and police administration of harassing Nisha. He drew a parallel with the death of police officer Roopa Tirkey in Dumka, alleging that justice had not been delivered in that case and raising questions about the safety of women in the state.
A Politically Active Tribal Rights Campaigner
Nisha had emerged as a vocal campaigner on tribal religious identity and Adivasi rights. She contested the 2024 Jharkhand Assembly elections from Gumla on a Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) ticket but subsequently left the party.
She was identified with the Sarna-Sanatan discourse and was particularly vocal against religious conversions among Adivasis. She supported the demand for delisting tribal people who convert to Christianity or Islam from the Scheduled Tribes list, a politically contentious issue involving questions of tribal identity, constitutional safeguards and the interpretation of the Scheduled Tribes framework.
Her activism and positions on religious conversion had also brought her into the centre of contentious public debates. In her final livestream, she expressed disappointment with the RSS and the BJP, saying that despite expecting their support, they had not stood by her. She also complained about online trolling and the use of the term ‘dalal’ (broker) against her, maintaining that she was not associated with any particular group.
In one of the emotional portions of her final broadcast, she said: “I should have understood this earlier… People say there is BJP, there is Congress, but there is no one… My parents will be deeply hurt. My father played his role in the Jharkhand agitation. I tried very hard to fight the administration and also tried to talk to them about security… But today I have to embrace my own death because this Hemant Soren government can humiliate women, and I cannot bear this,” she said in the video.
