Ranchi: Devpalik Gupta, a 21-year-old digital communication manager associated with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, was found dead in a forested area near Muri Junction in Ranchi on Tuesday, a day after he went missing while travelling by train from Ranchi to Patna.
Jan Suraaj national spokesperson Kumar Saurabh Singh confirmed that Gupta’s body had been recovered and said the police were investigating the case. The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear, and investigators are expected to examine the postmortem findings.
Originally from Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, Gupta was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Delhi and worked in digital communications for the party.
Went Missing During Train Journey
According to information shared by his family and colleagues, Gupta was travelling on the Ranchi–Patna Jan Shatabdi Express on Monday, accompanied by two associates.
He was reportedly seated in coach C-2, seat 50. At around 3 pm, shortly before the train reached Muri station, he went towards the pantry car to place a food order but did not return to his seat.
His companions subsequently searched for him and found that his mobile phone was switched off. They reportedly searched the train and Muri station with assistance from the train ticket examiner and Railway Protection Force personnel, but could not locate him.
After reaching Bokaro, the passengers lodged a complaint through the Rail Madad application.
Colleagues Allege Delay in FIR Registration
Gupta’s colleagues have alleged that a jurisdictional dispute between the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police delayed the registration of an FIR by more than six hours.
According to the account provided, the FIR was eventually registered in Ranchi at around 9 pm on Monday.
Party colleagues have also questioned the initial search efforts, alleging that the response during the early hours was inadequate and that an intensive search was not conducted throughout the night.
These allegations have not been independently established in the available information.
Police Investigation Under Way
Following the recovery of the body on Tuesday afternoon, a joint team of local police and the Government Railway Police took custody of it and began the required legal procedures.
Kumar Saurabh Singh also appealed to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and the Ranchi district administration through a post on X, urging action in the case.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances in which Gupta went missing and the events leading to his death. The postmortem report is expected to assist the investigation.
Police have yet to establish whether the death was accidental or involved a criminal act. Further details are awaited.
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