Jharkhand BJP president and Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Babulal Marandi, has accused the coalition government of orchestrating a 'fake encounter' that killed party’s former MLA candidate and tribal leader Surya Hansda in Godda district.
Marandi alleged that certain 'criminal elements' within the police force are working to frame innocent people, brand tribal leaders as criminals, and carry out encounters on mere suspicion to silence dissenting voices. “The way some policemen are giving shelter to criminals in this government, even leaders in power and opposition are at risk,” he said.
He condemned the incident as 'not an encounter but a murder' by 'cowards in uniform.' According to Marandi, Hansda was a public welfare activist whose work and voice were deliberately silenced. “Trapping people in false cases and harassing them has become the government’s way of dealing with protestors,” he added.
Hansda’s wife and mother have publicly accused the police of deliberate murder and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. The BJP has backed this demand, saying only an independent inquiry can ensure justice. Hansda, 38, was a prominent figure in the Santhal Pargana region, known for championing tribal rights, opposing alleged land grabs, and pressing for strict enforcement of tenancy laws.
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In the 2019 Assembly elections, he contested from Borio constituency on a BJP ticket, finishing second. The party had fielded him in place of former state BJP president Tala Marandi.
Former Union Minister Arjun Munda is scheduled to visit Hansda’s family in Godda on August 17, a move seen as the BJP’s effort to intensify its campaign over the issue. Party leaders said they would raise the matter both inside the Assembly and at public rallies, portraying Hansda’s death as an example of “state-sponsored suppression of tribal voices”.
“This is not just about Surya Hansda,” a senior BJP leader said. “It is about the safety of every person who dares to speak up for their community in Jharkhand.”
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