THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 11: The Jharkhand unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged demonstrations across all 264 blocks of the state on Wednesday, pressing for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged fake encounter killing of social activist Surya Hansda and demanding the return of agricultural land acquired in Nagdi for the proposed RIMS-2 project.
State BJP president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi, Union Minister Annapurna Devi, former Chief Minister Raghubar Das, former BJP chief Deepak Prakash, and other senior leaders led the protests at different locations, accusing the Hemant Soren-led government of “patronising mafias and middlemen.”
‘Murder to Silence a Voice Against Mafias’
Addressing a protest rally in Ranchi, Marandi alleged that Hansda, who had contested elections four times and was actively involved in educating over 300 underprivileged children, had become a target for the mineral mafia because of his opposition to illegal mining.
“Surya Hansda was brutally murdered at the behest of brokers and mafias shielded by this government. The so-called police encounter is completely fake. If the government has nothing to hide, it should allow a CBI inquiry,” he said.
Marandi also accused the government of exploiting farmers in the name of healthcare expansion. “On one hand, tribals are being killed; on the other, peasants’ land is being snatched for RIMS-2 against their wishes. The BJP stands firmly with the farmers,” he declared.
Raghubar Das: ‘Fake Encounter, Land Grab for Commission’
Leading a parallel protest in Kanke, former Chief Minister Raghubar Das echoed the demand for a CBI investigation.
“When the state was mourning the death of Shibu Soren ji, the government orchestrated the killing of a social worker who was fighting against corruption. The police claimed that 40–50 people attacked, yet only Surya Hansda was shot and no one else has been identified. What clearer proof is needed that this was a fake encounter?” he said.
Das further charged the Soren government with corruption in the RIMS-2 land acquisition. “During my tenure, we built four medical colleges, a cancer hospital, and an AIIMS without taking away agricultural land. But this government is grabbing peasants’ land only to earn commissions,” he alleged.
‘Symbolic Protest, Bigger Agitation Ahead’
BJP leaders warned that Thursday’s demonstrations were only a symbolic protest. If their demands are ignored, they vowed to intensify the agitation.
“This is just a warning. If the Hemant government does not wake up, people will be mobilised for a bigger movement. Youth across Nepal have shown what happens when people rise against corruption and unemployment — Jharkhand will not wait five years either,” Das said.
District BJP president Varun Sahu, senior MLA C.P. Singh, and several other state leaders also addressed gatherings across Ranchi and other districts.
The party has made two central demands: a CBI inquiry into Surya Hansda’s death and the return of Nagdi farmers’ land earmarked for RIMS-2.
