Jharkhand Bandh on January 17 Over Soma Munda Murder, Adiwasi Groups Seek Justice

Several Adiwasi organizations have called for a statewide bandh in Jharkhand on January 17, 2026, to protest the murder of tribal leader and Jharkhand movement activist Soma Munda. The call for the bandh has been jointly given by many organizations, including the Tribal Coordination Committee (Khunti).

The organizations said the bandh is against land grabbing, the mining mafia, and what they describe as planned attacks on the tribal community. Soma Munda was shot dead on January 7, 2026, near Jamuadaha under the Arki police station area in Khunti district. He was returning home on a motorcycle with his wife when unknown attackers opened fire on him. He died on the spot.

Adiwasi leaders said Soma Munda was a respected figure in the community. He was the head of the traditional Padha system of 56 villages and the successor of Edal Sanga Padha. Throughout his life, he worked to protect water, forests, and land, fought for constitutional rights, and stood for tribal identity. The organizations alleged that the murder was not due to personal enmity, but part of a larger conspiracy to silence voices speaking out against land mafias, mining middlemen, and corporate interests. They claimed that attacks on tribal leaders and social activists are increasing in the state.

The press release also said that even after 25 years of Jharkhand’s formation, the condition of tribals has not improved much. Laws meant to protect tribal land, such as the PESA Act and the CNT-SPT Act, are not being properly enforced. As a result, cases of land fraud, forced occupation, and illegal takeover of tribal land have increased. Referring to the killings of tribal activists and leaders in districts like Khunti, Ranchi, Gumla, and Simdega, the organizations demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and a fair investigation into Soma Munda’s murder. They also appealed to the public to support and make the January 17 Jharkhand bandh successful.