Four persons, including main accused Dukhu Tudu, were arrested in connection with the murder of BJP SC/ST Morcha leader Hopen Hembram near Kaliadih Gaushala on Saturday, police said on Sunday morning.

According to the police, the arrested youths are allegedly JMM supporters. Tudu is a close relative of JMM leader Dr Tudu, accused in Nagadih lynching and currently in jail in a murder case, police said.

This came as a shock for the city just hours ahead before polling for Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat started, in which BJP candidate and sitting MP Bidyut Baran Mahato and JMM nominee Champai Soren are pitted in a direct contest.

“We have arrested four persons including main accused Dukhu Tudu. A special team headed by city SP Prabhat Kumar was formed to crack the case. Hunt is on to nab the remaining accused and conspirators. Prima facie, it appears to be related to land dispute. Hembram’s mother had accused Dukhu Tudu alias Dukhu Majhi, his son Karia Tudu, Rinku Tudu and few others,” Anoop Biarthare, Jamshedpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) said.

Hopen Hembarm, 35, was the vice president of BJP SC/ST Morcha, Ghaghidih mandal. He was shot six times from behind by the assailants near Kaliadih Gaushala under Parsudih police station (PS) on Saturday, just 200 metres away from the victim’s house. Police recovered Hopen’s shoes and two blank cells of 7.65 mm bore from the spot of crime. Hopen worked at the Gaushala.

The deceased’s brother said Dukhu Tudu had staked his claim on Hopen’s two bigha land. Tudu had also claimed 15-acre land owned by one Ghuma Soren, a friend of Hopen, in the Kaliadih village, the brother alleged further.

“Hopen was supporting Ghuma which infuriated Dukhu. The matter is in court. Dukhu and his son had threatened to kill Hopen three months ago and they did it within a month. Dukhu is a relative of JMM leader Dr Tudu, who is in jail for a murder,” Suku Hembram, Hopen’s brother said.

BJP district president Dinesh Kumar had demanded immediate arresting of the culprits. “Hopen was returning to his home after distributing voter slips when Dukhu Tudu, Rinku Tudu, Ghasiram Tudu, Raju Tudu and others shot him dead. All of them are connected to JMM. Frustrated with imminent defeat in the election, JMM tried to repeat Nagadih lynching to spread panic. BJP will not silently tolerate the evil design,” Kumar said.

On January 19, 2014, JMM leader Lakhai Hansda was bombed and shot to death at Karndih Chowk in a land dispute with another JMM leader Dr Tudu. Dr Tudu is also an accused in Nahadih lynching in which three youths and their grandmother were beaten to death on May 18, 2017.

JMM district president Ramdas Soren told HT this morning that Dr Tudu was in jail and as per his knowledge none of the accused held any post in JMM. “Still I will inquire into the matter if accused are anyway linked to our party. We also condemn such heinous crime,” said Soren.

First Published: May 13, 2019 15:39 IST