March 30, 2026 : The Jharkhand High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kosumbha village under Vishnugarh block in Hazaribagh district, describing the incident as heinous and a “blot on humanity.”

The shocking crime has triggered widespread protests across Hazaribagh, Jamshedpur, Lohardaga, and Simdega, with workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party taking to the streets. Demonstrators have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and the imposition of the strictest punishment.

Political leaders, including Hazaribagh MP Manish Jaiswal and MLA Purnima Sahu, have raised serious concerns over the functioning of the state government, calling for accountability and seeking capital punishment for those responsible.

Union Minister Annapurna Devi visited the victim’s family, assuring them of justice and urging authorities to expedite the arrest of the perpetrators.