Devpalik Gupta, who led the social media team of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party, was found dead near railway tracks in Ranchi district, Jharkhand, on Tuesday, October 27, after going missing during a train journey a day earlier. Gupta was travelling from Ranchi to Patna on the Jan Shatabdi Express with two colleagues when he reportedly left his berth to visit the pantry car but did not return.
Police said preliminary findings suggested he may have accidentally fallen from the moving train. However, the exact cause of death has not been established, and an investigation is underway.
Disappearance During Journey
According to reports by the Press Trust of India (PTI), Gupta boarded the Ranchi–Patna Jan Shatabdi Express on Monday, October 26, with two colleagues. The train departed at around 2.25 pm. Approximately 10 minutes later, Gupta reportedly told his companions that he was going to the pantry car to get something to eat. When he failed to return, they searched the pantry car and other coaches but could not locate him.
His colleagues informed the Government Railway Police (GRP) after the train reached Muri Junction. Gupta’s body was recovered the following day from bushes near the Ranchi–Muri railway line in the Angara area of Ranchi district. His brother subsequently identified the body, according to reports.
Police Investigation Underway
Angara police station officer-in-charge Gautam Kumar Rajwar told PTI that preliminary findings suggested Gupta may have accidentally fallen from the moving train. On October 28, reports stated that the GRP had registered a case of unnatural death and that forensic personnel had examined the recovery site. The body was sent for a post-mortem examination to help establish the cause of death.
No confirmed findings establishing the circumstances of his death had been reported in the available updates. Gupta, a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi. He had reportedly led Jan Suraaj’s social media team for four years. The party expressed grief over his death and called for an impartial investigation. The IIMC Alumni Association also urged the authorities to investigate the circumstances thoroughly.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Gupta’s death has left his family, friends and colleagues seeking answers. While preliminary police findings suggest a possible accidental fall, the cause of death should not be treated as confirmed until the investigation and post-mortem findings establish the facts.
A thorough and impartial inquiry, supported by transparent communication from the authorities, is essential to clarify the circumstances and prevent speculation. How can authorities ensure transparency in investigations involving unexplained deaths while respecting the privacy and grief of the families concerned?
Team IIMCAA deeply mourns the tragic loss of our alumnus Mr. Devpalik Gupta (HJ, Delhi | 2018-19 Batch) under mysterious circumstances in Jharkhand. Mr. Gupta was travelling back to Patna from Ranchi by a train with his two friends. His body, which was located near a railway track, has been identified by his brother. Team IIMCAA prays for strength to the family and friends to bear the irreparable loss. We urge Jharkhand Police to probe this incident thoroughly and make the investigation report public at the earliest.
— IIMC Alumni Association (@IIMCAA) October 27, 2026
