Tribal Leader Som Munda Shot Dead in Khunti; District Shuts Down in Protest

Khunti, Jharkhand: Tribal leader and local “Padha Raja” Som Munda was brutally shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jharkhand’s Khunti district on Wednesday evening. The murder, which occurred in front of his wife while the couple was returning home on a motorcycle, has sparked widespread outrage and led to a district-wide shutdown on Thursday.

Som Munda, a prominent tribal leader who contested the Khunti assembly seat in 2024, was returning from Khunti to his village Chilanghi when two men on a motorcycle overtook them near a pond in Jamudag and opened fire. One bullet struck Munda in the chest. Despite attempts to continue toward Khunti, he collapsed on the road and was later declared dead at a hospital. His wife informed police with the help of a passing tractor and an auto-rickshaw. The assailants fled toward Mandarutoli.

District Shutdown and Public Protests
In response to the killing, tribal organizations called for a bandh across Khunti on Thursday, which was widely observed. Markets, shops, schools, and public transport were completely shut, and protesters blocked main roads by setting tires on fire and staging sit-ins. Demonstrators demanded the immediate arrest of the culprits and swift justice for the victim’s family. Senior police and administrative officials were deployed to manage the situation and maintain peace.

Police Response and Investigation
DSP Varun Rajak confirmed the murder and said a Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the case. Police have begun raids at suspected locations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. The authorities have appealed to the public to maintain calm, assuring that every angle of the incident is being investigated and the culprits will soon be brought to justice.

Som Munda’s Legacy
Som Munda was an influential figure in the local tribal community, widely recognized as the traditional “Padha Raja.” He was also a senior member of the Jharkhand Party and coordinator of the Tribal Coordination Committee, Khunti district. The Tribal Coordination Committee has condemned his murder as a social and political conspiracy. Additional police forces have been deployed in the district as a precaution, and the investigation is ongoing.

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