Jagran correspondent, Khunti. A huge tribute meeting was organized in the memory of late Soma Munda, working president of Abu Jharkhand Party and Padha king, on Monday at Jiyarappa Jatra ground located in Hutar of Khunti Sadar block. In which a large number of villagers including social workers, intellectuals, political representatives participated and paid emotional tribute to the late Soma Munda. Before the program, stone laying ceremony was done at Jiyarappa ground, in which the name of late Som Munda was inscribed on the stone slab.
In the tribute meeting, Central President of Abu Jharkhand Party Rilan Horo, Convener of Tribal Mahasabha, former minister Dev Kumar Dhan, former minister Geeta Shree Oraon, Prem Shahi Munda of Bharat Adivasi Party, Phoolchand Tirkey of Adivasi Sarna Samiti, Chandra Prabhat Munda of Adivasi Coordination Committee, Franklin Dhan, Durgavati Odeya, Nisha Bhagat, Marshall Barla, Jyotsna Kerketta, Yogesh Ram Verma and other speakers said that late Soma Munda. He was a fearless, fighting and pro-people leader.
He worked throughout his life to organize the society and raise his voice against injustice. His struggle for education, employment, water, forest and land protection will always be remembered. His sudden demise is an irreparable loss to the society. During the meeting, two minutes silence was observed and prayers were offered for the peace of his soul. The speakers claimed that Soma Munda was murdered by land brokers. It was alleged that the police administration is busy protecting land brokers.
Jharkhand bandh announced on 17 January
During the tribute meeting, the Tribal Coordination Committee called for a Jharkhand bandh on January 17, demanding the immediate arrest of the killers of Padha king Soma Munda. The committee said that the administration had already been given an ultimatum of 72 hours, but till now no concrete action or satisfactory information has come to light.
Expressing displeasure over the alleged negligence of the administration, the organizing committee said that this bandh will be done to strengthen the voice of the public and take the demand for justice to a decisive point.