Former Lohardaga MLA KK Bhagat found dead

Gumla: Kamal Kishore Bhagat, a two-time former MLA from Lohardaga and currently vice-president of the Ajsu-Party, was found dead in his rented home in Harmu Road in Lohardaga on Friday. Bhagat’s wife Niru Shanti Bhagat was also found in an unconscious state and taken to a private hospital in Ranchi for treatment.

Bhagat (55), was found unconscious in his bed around 9:30 am by his nephew, Ajit Tana Bhagat, and niece. The couple did not have any child and they were staying with their nephew and niece.

Police said they have not found any injury marks on Bhagat’s body. Later, an autopsy was conducted by a medical team of three doctors at the Lohardaga sadar hospital. Dr Shambhu Choudhary, one of the three doctors who conducted the autopsy, said Bhagat’s viscera was sent to the forensic science laboratory in Ranchi for analysis.

The officer-in-charge of Lohardaga police station, Mantu Kumar, said, “Bhagat’s family members said the couple usually woke up by 8 am. On Friday, their bedroom was locked till 9:30 am. The couple’s nephew broke in and found Bhagat lying motionless on his bed while his wife was found unconscious. She was moved to Medanta Hospital at Irba in Ranchi.”

Citing family sources, Kumar said Bhagat was suffering from diabetes and was not well for some time. Bhagat’s aide, Suraj Agarwal, said the former MLA was under treatment at Ranchi’s Apollo Hospital for diabetes. “We have demanded a probe into his death as we suspect foul play,” Agarwal said.

Lohardaga SDPO VN Singh said Bhagat’s house will be investigated by a police team to check for foul play and the statement of his wife will be taken once she was medically stable.

Born in Jingi village in Lohardaga’s Kuru block, Bhagat was at the forefront of the separate statehood movement and was with the Ajsu Party since its inception in 1986. He was elected from Lohardaga in 2009 and was re-elected in 2014. He was disqualified as MLA after being convicted in a criminal case in June 2015 and was barred from contesting elections for seven years. In the re-polling that ensued, Congress candidate Sukhdeo Bhagat won the seat.

In a social media post, Sukhdeo condoled Bhagat’s death. “I lost a younger brother. The entire district is shocked to learn of his passing. I wish his wife a speedy recovery,” he wrote.

Ajsu Party chief Sudesh Mahto also paid tribute to Bhagat. “Bablu Da’s untimely demise has shattered me. This is an irreparable loss for the party,” Mahto said in a tweet.

Chief minister Hemant Soren, finance minister and incumbent Lohardaga MLA Rameshwar Oraon and health minister Banna Gupta also condoled Bhagat’s death.


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