Tribal leader Nisha Bhagat allegedly died by suicide in Jharkhand’s Ranchi on Friday. Shortly before her death, she went live on Facebook for around 10 minutes and spoke about her work for the tribal community, her concerns over security and her disappointment with the administration
Police reached the spot after receiving information and took her to a nearby hospital. However, doctors declared her dead
During the live session, Bhagat spoke about her efforts to protect tribal rights and identity. She said she had continued fighting for her community but felt that her efforts had not brought any change. She also claimed that she had approached the administration seeking security but had not received the required support. At one point, she said she felt that nobody stood by her.
The exact circumstances surrounding her death are not yet known. Police are questioning her family members and local residents. Investigators are also examining the Facebook Live video as part of the probe.
Who Was Nisha Bhagat?
Nisha Bhagat belonged to the Oraon tribal community and was originally from Gumla district in Jharkhand. She was known for raising issues related to tribal rights, identity, culture and traditions.
Her father, Handu Bhagat, was associated with the Jharkhand movement and the struggle for tribal rights. His involvement in the movement influenced her interest in community issues.
Bhagat studied hotel management in Durgapur after completing school and later worked in Bengaluru. She eventually left her job to focus on tribal rights and cultural identity.
She campaigned for a separate Sarna Religious Code and the protection of jal, jangal, zameen (water, forests and land). She also raised demands for the implementation of the CNT-SPT Acts and the PESA Act.
Religious conversion and ‘delisting’ were among the other issues she actively highlighted. In December 2025, she shaved her head during a protest against religious conversion and delisting. She argued that tribal people who convert to other religions should not receive the benefits of tribal reservation. She also organised awareness campaigns to promote her views.
Apart from activism, Bhagat was involved in politics. She was associated with the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and contested the 2024 Assembly election from the Gumla constituency.
Source: News18