Former Ajsu Party MLA Kamal Kishore Bhagat was today found dead under suspicious circumstances at his residence in Lohardaga on Friday morning.
His wife Niru Shanti Bhagat was also found in an unconscious condition and she was referred to Medanta hospital in Ranchi where her condition is critical but stable.
Ajit Tana Bhagat, cousin of deceased former MLA said that Bhagat and his wife took dinner on Thursday night and they retired in their room. On Friday morning when they did not open the door, worried family members broke the door where they found Bhagat dead and Niru Shanti in an unconscious condition. 55 years old Bhagat was not keeping well from the past sometimes. Bhagat's niece, Mamta Kumari, said that her uncle generally woke up in the morning. But, when they did not emerge from their room till 11:00 am they started knocking on the door and finally broke it. There is no information on whether any injury mark was found on their body and whether burning coal was kept inside the room causing their death. Police too remained tight-lipped. Referred as Babloo Da, Bhagat was among the founder members of Ajsu Party. He had won the Lohardaga assembly seat in 2009 and 2014. But he was disqualified as MLA following his conviction in a criminal case after which he fielded his wife, but she lost the seat. The former MLA’s post-mortem was done at Lohardaga Sadar Hospital on Friday, after that thousands of workers paid tribute to him with a sad heart. His body was brought from there to his native village Jingi. On Saturday, he will be cremated at Jingi at 10:00 a.m. AJSU Party has demanded from the administration that Kamal Kishore Bhagat has been a Jharkhand agitator and has also been a two-time MLA from Lohardaga, his last rites should be performed with State honours. The administration has sent a fax for permission from the State government.
Meanwhile, leaders cutting across the party line expressed condolence over his demise. Ajsu Party chief Sudesh Mahto remembered him as his mentor.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Governor Ramesh Bais, senior leaders of prominent political parties also expressed grief and paid condolences on the former legislator’s untimely demise.
