Sonbhadra: Court Orders FIR Against Five, Including Contractor, in Tribal Man’s Murder Case

Sonbhadra, January 17, 2026: In a significant judicial intervention, the Special Judge under the SC/ST Act in Sonbhadra has ordered the filing of an FIR against five accused, including a contractor, in the murder of tribal resident Surajman Chero. The court has directed that the investigation be conducted under the supervision of the Circle Officer (CO), and the results be submitted to the court.

Incident Details

The case pertains to the alleged strangulation and killing of Surajman Chero approximately two months ago. According to the court order, on the night of October 8, 2025, four men from Gidhiyan village forcibly took Surajman Chero and his father under the pretext of securing work in a company in Maharashtra. When they resisted, they were beaten and dragged to Kon Bazaar, from where they were transported by Shaktipunj Express via Jabalpur and Nagpur to Chandrapur, Maharashtra.

It is alleged that both father and son were employed under strict surveillance in the company. On November 10, 2025, when Surajman attempted to return home secretly, he was caught, taken to a side room, and strangled to death using a towel. His body was sent to the government hospital in Chandrapur, where a post-mortem was conducted on November 12, 2025.

Judicial Orders and Investigation

The petition, filed by Arun Chero through advocate Roshanlal Yadav under Section 173(4) BNSS, claimed that despite informing local police and the Sonbhadra SP, no action was taken. During the hearing, the court emphasized the serious nature of the crime and ordered immediate FIR registration. The police have been directed to conduct a thorough investigation under CO supervision and report back to the court.

This order marks a crucial step in ensuring justice for tribal communities and underscores the judicial system’s proactive stance in cases involving SC/ST victims.