Overview
- Two bike-borne assailants opened fire on Soma Munda on the Namkum–Jamuadag Road on January 7 evening as he rode home with his wife.
- Locals rushed him to a Khunti hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, and police registered a case under the BNS and the Arms Act.
- A district-wide bandh saw roads blocked, markets and schools closed, and a major demonstration at Bhagat Singh Chowk that halted traffic until mid-afternoon.
- Police said a Special Investigation Team has been constituted, raids are ongoing at suspected hideouts, additional forces are deployed, and authorities have appealed for calm.
- Munda, a traditional Parha/Padha Raja and 2024 assembly candidate, was mourned by leaders across parties who urged swift arrests and questioned the law-and-order situation.