Khunti district in Jharkhand experienced a complete shutdown following the killing of prominent tribal leader Padha Raja Som Munda. Various tribal organizations called for a district-wide bandh, leading to disruptions in normal life. Protesters and villagers blocked major intersections, with markets, shops, and educational institutions remaining closed.
The shutdown paralyzed daily activities in Khunti as supporters staged sit-in demonstrations and blocked roads by burning tires. Tribal organizations and local residents demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for Som Munda’s murder and swift justice for his family. The incident has sparked widespread anger and tension in the region.
Senior police and administrative officials were stationed at sensitive locations to oversee the situation and interact with protesters to maintain law and order. Som Munda was fatally shot by unidentified assailants while returning to his village, Chalangi, from Khunti with his wife on a motorcycle. The attackers, riding another motorcycle, overtook them near a pond in Jamuadag and fired multiple shots, one of which struck Som Munda in the chest.
Despite sustaining critical injuries, Som Munda tried to ride towards Khunti but collapsed on the way due to his deteriorating condition. The assailants fled towards Mandarutoli following the attack. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by DSP Varun Rajak to investigate the case thoroughly, with raids being conducted at suspected hideouts to apprehend the culprits.
The administration has urged the public to maintain peace, ensuring a comprehensive investigation from all angles and the swift arrest of the perpetrators. Som Munda, a revered figure in the tribal community and a Padha Raja, was also a leader of the Jharkhand Party, an educator, and the convener of the Tribal Coordination Committee in Khunti district. The Tribal Coordination Committee has labeled his killing as a “social and political conspiracy.”
Additional police forces have been deployed across the district as a precautionary measure, and the administration is closely monitoring the situation as the investigation progresses.
