Ranchi
Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday announced that the “Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will probe into the death of tribal activist Nisha Kumari Bhagat” and that he has issued directions in this regard. Nisha alleged suicide after an emotional Facebook Live broadcast has triggered widespread protests and demands for an independent investigation.
The Chief Minister announced the decision through a social media post late in the evening even as pressure for a CBI probe mounted from the Opposition BJP, its Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha and various tribal organisations.
The decision came on a day when police registered an FIR against two persons, Kendriya Sarna Samity president Ajay Tirkey and Jyotsna Kerketta, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Nisha’s father, Handu Bhagat. The officer-in-charge of Pithoria police station, Satish Kumar Pandey, was also removed from his post and attached to the police lines amid questions over the police response to Nisha’s complaints before her death. Nisha had called Pandey during her FB Live session when she informed him that she was live on social media and intended to take her life.
The FIR has invoked Sections 108 and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy, against the two named accused. Police officials have clarified that the allegations are being investigated and that further action will depend on the evidence gathered.
Father Alleged Conspiracy, Named Two Persons
In his written complaint to 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 described her death as the outcome of a planned conspiracy rather than suicide and demanded stringent legal action against those responsible.
Apart from Ajay Tirkey and Jyotsna Kerketta, the father had questioned the role of the Pithoria police station in-charge and alleged harassment by people associated with land dealings and others. He urged the police to investigate all the names and allegations mentioned in his daughter’s final Facebook Live broadcast.
He also alleged that Nisha was intimidated and humiliated even while travelling outside her residence and that repeated attacks on her character had damaged her social standing and caused her considerable mental distress.
The police have registered the FIR against the two named individuals. The role of the former police station in-charge is also under investigation. A police official said there was, so far, no concrete evidence to substantiate the allegations against the officer, although he would remain within the ambit of the investigation.
Nisha’s mother, Devika Bhagat, had separately alleged that her daughter faced threats and pressure from Ajay Tirkey and his associates. The family has consistently demanded a CBI investigation, claiming that influential people were involved.
Police Officer Removed, SIT Constituted
Before the Chief Minister’s announcement of the CBI probe, Ranchi police had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under DSP headquarters Amar Pandey to investigate the circumstances surrounding Nisha’s death.
Ranchi Rural SP Gaurav Goswami said the SIT was examining the allegations made by Nisha, the named FIR, the role of police personnel and other available evidence. Police were also awaiting forensic findings.
The police had earlier registered an unnatural death (UD) case. No suicide note was recovered from her room, according to the police. The investigation was subsequently expanded following her father’s complaint.
IRS Officer Offers To Become Witness
In another significant development, IRS officer Nesha Oraon has offered to become a witness in the Nisha Bhagat death case. Nesha is the daughter of senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon. Her willingness to depose could provide an additional dimension to the investigation, particularly in establishing the circumstances surrounding the alleged harassment and the events preceding Nisha’s death. Her statement and the specific information she intends to place before investigators will be important in assessing the allegations.
Facebook Live Before Death
Nisha, around 38, was found dead at her rented accommodation in the Pithoria police station area of Ranchi on November 6, shortly after going live on Facebook for nearly 10 minutes.
In the emotional broadcast, she was seen crying and speaking about alleged harassment by land brokers, online character assassination and the failure of the police and administration to address her grievances. She accused the Hemant Soren government and people allegedly associated with land dealings of making it dangerous to raise one’s voice against them.
During the livestream, she telephoned the Pithoria police station officer-in-charge, telling 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 call reportedly ended after she informed the officer about the livestream. Police subsequently reached her residence and took her to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), where she was declared dead.
Her final video abruptly cut off, with the camera appearing to be obstructed by a green object. The circumstances surrounding her death, the allegations in the video and the events immediately preceding it are now expected to form part of the CBI investigation.
Political Pressure And Tribal Organisations’ Protests
The BJP had been demanding a CBI investigation since the incident, with Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi accusing the state government of failing to protect a tribal woman who had repeatedly raised concerns about alleged harassment and land-related activities.
The BJP’s ST Morcha had announced a phased agitation across the five districts of South Chotanagpur division, comprising Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga, Khunti and Simdega. Its programme included torchlight processions on November 10, candle marches by tribal women on November 11, further rallies on November 17 and a regional bandh on November 18.
Youths had also staged a road blockade near Nagri checkpost demanding a CBI probe. Various tribal organisations and community representatives have sought justice for Nisha and accountability for those allegedly responsible for her death.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and sought a detailed action-taken report from the state government within seven days. It has specifically sought information about previous complaints, the investigation and preservation of the Facebook Live recording and other digital evidence. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has also initiated an inquiry under Article 338A of the Constitution and sought an action-taken report from the Chief Secretary, Director General of Police and Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police within seven days.
The CPI(ML) Liberation, an ally of the ruling coalition, had also demanded an impartial and high-level investigation.
Nisha was known for her activism on Adivasi identity and religious issues and had contested the 2024 Assembly elections from Gumla on a Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha ticket before subsequently leaving the party.
