DNA Analysis: Who was Nisha Bhagat, the Jharkhand activist whose death has raised questions over police response?

The death of Jharkhand-based tribal rights activist Nisha Bhagat has raised questions over alleged land grabbing, harassment and the response of the local police after she spoke about taking her own life during a Facebook Live broadcast. Before her death on Friday, Bhagat had accused the state government, the administration and people she described as land mafia of making her struggle for Adivasi rights increasingly difficult.

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In today's episode of DNA, Zee News Managing Editor Rahul Sinha examines the circumstances surrounding Nisha Bhagat's death, her allegations against people she held responsible for her distress, and the police response to her final phone call. He also analyses the alleged nexus between land grabbers and officials in Jharkhand and the questions being raised about the protection of tribal land and the rights of Adivasi communities.

#DNAमित्रों | आदिवासी नेता की मौत की वजह क्या है? मौत से पहले किस-किसका नाम ले रही थीं निशा? सिस्टम और 'माफिया-तंत्र' का 'नेक्सस' Decode #DNA #DNAWithRahulSinha #Jharkhand #NishaBhagat @rahulsinhatv https://t.co/Ywom9nrAdV

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Who was Nisha Bhagat and what was her fight about?

Originally from Gumla district in Jharkhand, Nisha Bhagat left her hotel management job in Bengaluru to work for the rights of tribal communities in her home state. She regularly raised concerns over alleged encroachment on Adivasi land and spoke about religious conversions among tribal communities.

Bhagat was also politically active and contested the 2024 Assembly election from Gumla on a Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JKLM) ticket. She frequently used public platforms and social media to raise issues concerning tribal identity, land rights and religious conversion.

However, Bhagat died by suicide on Friday. Before her death, she broadcast a Facebook Live lasting around 10 minutes, during which she spoke about her struggles and alleged that she had been left without support from the government and administration.

During the broadcast, Bhagat accused the Hemant Soren-led state government and people she described as land brokers of targeting her. She also alleged that she had faced character assassination and mental harassment on social media.

In the video, she said she had repeatedly approached the administration for protection but had not received the help she needed. She also named Ajay Tirkey and made allegations against him in connection with the land disputes.

Final phone call to police raises questions

One of the most troubling parts of Bhagat's final Facebook Live was her phone conversation with the officer-in-charge of Pithoria police station, identified as Satish Kumar.

During the call, Bhagat told the officer that she was about to end her life and had called him to inform him of her intention. She also accused the police of failing to act on her complaints, including allegations that someone had stolen from her home and that people were defaming her.

The officer asked where she was and told her to come to the police station. However, the call was subsequently disconnected while Bhagat's Facebook Live was still running.

The incident has raised questions about the police response after Bhagat informed the officer that she intended to take her own life. According to reports, her home was around six kilometres from Pithoria police station. The officer-in-charge declined to make an on-camera comment, citing official rules.

Ajay Tirkey named in activist's allegations

Another person named in Bhagat's final video was Ajay Tirkey, who heads a faction of the Kendriya Sarna Samiti and is an Adivasi leader.

Bhagat and Tirkey had been involved in a prolonged dispute over tribal land and the installation of Sarna flags in and around Pithoria in Ranchi district.

Bhagat had accused Tirkey of having links with land grabbers and alleged that he had colluded with the local police. She further alleged that tribal land was being illegally occupied with the involvement of people in the administration and that her family had faced harassment.

Tirkey has denied the allegations. Following Bhagat's death, the dispute has come under renewed scrutiny.

Nisha Bhagat's father seeks CBI investigation

Bhagat's death has also prompted demands for an independent investigation from her family. Her father, Handu Bhagat, has questioned the government's role and called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

Speaking to ANI, he said the government's failure had led to the loss of his daughter and demanded an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

Bhagat had campaigned against alleged religious conversion networks in Jharkhand, raising concerns about the activities of Christian missionaries and what she described as organised conversion operations.

Jharkhand land scam: ED investigation points to alleged nexus

The wider issue of tribal land rights in Jharkhand has also come under scrutiny in several investigations into alleged land grabbing.

FIRs and charge sheets filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Jharkhand Police point to an alleged organised land scam involving the targeting of tribal land protected under the Chotanagpur Tenancy (CNT) Act. The law places restrictions on the transfer of land belonging to tribal communities.

The ED's investigation has estimated that a network involving alleged land mafias, middlemen and government officials illegally grabbed around 1,800 acres of tribal and government land. The estimated value of the land and assets linked to the alleged scam is approximately Rs 3,000 crore.

Bhagat's death has brought renewed attention to these concerns, as well as questions about whether complaints made by people facing threats and harassment receive an adequate response from the authorities.

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