Ranchi, August 20: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union Minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday described the alleged police encounter of Surya Hansda as a carefully orchestrated conspiracy and has demanded for a CBI investigation.
Munda, who came back to the state capital after visiting Hansda’s family in the Santhal Pargana area of Godda district, conducted a meeting at the state BJP office. The attendees included members of the seven-member delegation formed to look into the alleged encounter involving Surya.
Following the meeting, Munda, while talking to reporters, said that a detailed report on the case will soon be presented to the party, which will lay the groundwork for launching a major movement. He characterized the incident as contrived and referred to it as a carefully planned murder.
Strongly emphasising the seriousness of the matter, Munda said: “We met Surya Hansda’s family, who have shared their distressing experiences. They have reported ongoing threats and mistreatment from the police, fostering a climate of fear. It is now evident that this was not coincidental but a deliberate conspiracy to eliminate Surya, allowing illegal activities like mining and smuggling to persist, supported by a corrupt police-crime alliance.”
Munda further questioned the claims made by the police and said that Surya’s name was not even mentioned in the case in which he is said to have been arrested. “There are many contradictions in the briefing of the Superintendent of Police. We have collected many such information which point to a conspiracy in this case. Surya has been treated unjustly and our party will not tolerate this,” Munda stressed.
The senior BJP leader additionally mentioned that Surya’s family plays a role in the traditional governance structure of Dakaita village in Godda. Munda said that Surya’s mother is referred to as ‘Manjhi Budhi’, which translates to traditional female chief and his family has been meeting social and community responsibilities. “Such type of behavior with a tribal family makes people more suspicious. It’s not just about killing someone; it’s also about trying to silence the voice of the tribal community,” Munda added.
Meanwhile, the BJP has called for the case to be handed over to the CBI to ensure a fair probe. Munda remarked that Surya’s family and local residents do not have faith in the police’s version of events saying: “We want a high-level inquiry so that the truth is revealed. If the government is hesitant to order a CBI probe, the investigation should at least be carried out under the supervision of a retired High Court judge.”
The BJP has issued a warning that should Surya’s family fail to receive justice, the party will initiate a large-scale protest throughout Jharkhand.
Notably on 11 August, Surya was fatally shot by the police, reportedly while attempting to escape during a transfer from Deoghar to Godda. The police stated that during questioning, Hansda disclosed the location of concealed weapons in the Jirli–Dhamni hills of Godda. While en route to the site, he purportedly seized a weapon from an officer and tried to escape, resulting in a confrontation.
However, Surya’s family and relatives have strongly refuted this account, labeling it a “premeditated encounter.”
