Gumla Residents Stage Palkot Bandh Over Raja Saheb's Arrest in Tribal Priest Murder Case
Hundreds of residents in Gumla district enforced a complete bandh in Palkot on Sunday. They protested the arrest of Raja Saheb Devvrat Nath Shahdeo by Khunti district police. The arrest connects to the murder of tribal priest Soma Munda last week.
Protest Details and Demands
People organized the bandh under the Nav Yuvak Sangh Palkot. They demanded Shahdeo's immediate release. Protesters claimed authorities wrongly implicated him in the case.
The protest march started from Sanjay Chowk. It proceeded to Basia Mor before returning to the main marketplace. The gathering then converted into a public meeting.
Vehicular traffic remained largely unaffected during the bandh. However, residents faced significant hardship. Commercial entities closed their shutters, disrupting daily life.
Background of the Murder Case
Soma Munda, known as Pardha Raja in his community, died last week. Unidentified criminals shot him dead while he traveled home with his wife on a motorcycle.
Khunti police revealed Shahdeo attempted to sell 3.16 acres of land at Jiarappa village. This land falls under the Khunti police station area. Munda and others strongly objected to this transaction.
A traditional fair has been organized on that land for many years. Last November, someone conducted leveling work on the property. They removed stone markers, which Munda opposed. Following this opposition, conspirators hatched a plan for his murder.
Protesters Voice Their Concerns
Basant Gupta, one of the protesters, expressed deep distress over the killing. He stated, "We are distressed over the killing of Padha Raja Soma Munda ji. We want a high-level inquiry into the case, but we strongly deny the involvement of Raja Saheb for a small plot of land."
Notably, Shahdeo hails from the former Palkot princely estate. His arrest has sparked strong reactions from local residents who organized Sunday's bandh in solidarity.
