Devpalik Gupta, a 31 year old digital communications manager associated with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, was found dead near railway tracks in Jharkhand on Tuesday, a day after he went missing while travelling from Ranchi to Patna by train.
Gupta’s body was found near the tracks in Jarwadih village, close to railway pole number 379/18 on the Ranchi to Muri line, Angara police station officer in charge Gautam Kumar Rajwar told PTI.
“Preliminary findings suggest that he died after accidentally falling from the moving train,” Rajwar said.
He added that the body would be sent to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi for a post mortem examination. Police will register an unnatural death case based on statements from Gupta’s family members.
Went Missing During Train Journey
Gupta boarded the Ranchi Patna Janshatabdi Express with his colleague Gautam Kumar on Monday. The train departed Ranchi railway station at around 2.25 pm.
According to Kumar, Gupta told his companions about 10 minutes into the journey that he was going to the pantry car to get something to eat. However, he did not return.
Kumar said he searched the pantry car and checked the other coaches but could not find Gupta.
When the train stopped at Muri Junction, his companions approached the Government Railway Police (GRP), prompting a search for him. Railway personnel and local police were also involved in efforts to trace his whereabouts.
Gupta’s mobile phone was reportedly switched off during the search.
Police Investigation Underway
Gupta’s disappearance prompted concern among his colleagues, who had reportedly raised questions about the initial response to the incident.
Jan Suraaj national spokesperson Kumar Saurabh Singh confirmed that Gupta’s body had been found and called for action by the authorities.
Gupta was originally from Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh and was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi. He worked as the party’s digital communications manager.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The post mortem examination is expected to help establish the cause of death.
