Daijiworld Media Network - Khunti
Khunti, Jan 14: Seven persons, including the prime accused, have been arrested in connection with the murder of tribal village head Soma Munda in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
Munda, who had contested the 2024 assembly elections from the Khunti constituency on an Abua Jharkhand Party (AJP) ticket, was shot dead on January 7 while returning home on a motorcycle along with his wife.
Superintendent of Police Manish Toppo said a manhunt is underway to nab two shooters and other suspects involved in the crime.
“Soma Munda was murdered following a land dispute. Seven accused have been arrested so far, including the main conspirator,” the SP said.
Munda was the ‘Adel Sanga Padha Raja’, the traditional head of 22 villages. He was killed on the Namkum–Jamuadag Road in the Khunti police station limits.
According to police, the murder stemmed from a dispute over 3.16 acres of land in Jiarappa village. The land was allegedly being sold by Devbrat Nath Shahdeo, a resident of Ranchi, who had acquired it from the descendants of former landlords with the help of local intermediaries.
“Munda and other villagers objected to the sale as the land had been used for the traditional Padha Jatra Mela for several years,” Toppo said.
The dispute intensified last November when levelling work was carried out on the land and stone boundary markers were removed, a move strongly opposed by Munda.
“Following this, a conspiracy was hatched and Munda was murdered,” the SP added.
Police said further investigation is underway and more arrests are expected.