Former BJP leader shot dead in Jharkhand police encounter a day after arrest

Former BJP leader Suryanarayan alias Surya Hansda was killed in a police encounter late Sunday night, a day after his arrest from Mohanpur Navadih in Deoghar district. His body was recovered on Monday morning from the foothills between Jolokundi and Raharbariya under Boarijore police station limits. A large police force was deployed at the scene before the body was sent to Godda Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.

According to Surya’s mother, Neelmani Murmu, he was detained on Sunday from his aunt’s house. She said she attempted to stop the police vehicle carrying her son’s body from the encounter site. Surya’s wife, Sheila Murmu, also reached the hospital following the recovery of the body. Police have not issued an official statement detailing the events between the arrest and the encounter.

Police records state that Surya Hansda was facing three new cases in Godda and Sahibganj districts since January 2025. These include allegations of firing 30–40 rounds in the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) mining area, setting a dumper truck on fire, and an arson incident near a petrol pump in Sahibganj. He had been accused in more than 50 criminal cases since 2000, involving charges of kidnapping, murder, and loot, and was previously known as a gangster in the region.

After 2009, Surya entered mainstream politics, initially joining the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), later the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and subsequently the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKAM). He contested twice from the Borio Assembly constituency but was defeated on both occasions. He was known for his outspoken stance on tribal rights issues.

For his arrest, Godda police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by SDPO Ashok Ravidas. The team had been conducting searches and raids in multiple locations before locating and arresting Surya Hansda in Deoghar. The encounter took place later that night, with police recovering his body the following morning.