Jan Suraaj Party's digital manager missing after Ranchi-Patna train journey
Synopsis
A key member of Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj Party has vanished mid-journey on a Ranchi-Patna train, with his phone last active at 2 am Tuesday and authorities unable to rule out multiple possibilities. The disappearance — on the eve of Bihar Legislative Council results — has triggered a joint RPF-GRP search.
Key Takeaways
Devpalik Gupta , 31 , digital communication manager of the Jan Suraaj Party , went missing during a Ranchi-to-Patna train journey on Monday, 27 October 2026 .
He had boarded the Jan Shatabdi Express at around 2.25 pm with colleague Gautam Kumar ; he reportedly deboarded before Muri Junction .
His mobile phone was last active at approximately 2 am on Tuesday and has since been switched off.
A complaint has been filed at Muri GRP police station ; RPF and GRP are conducting a joint search operation.
Gupta is an IIMC Delhi alumnus (2018 batch) and worked for the party founded by Prashant Kishor .
Devpalik Gupta, the digital communication manager of the Jan Suraaj Party, has gone missing after reportedly deboarding a train mid-journey from Ranchi to Patna on Monday, 27 October 2026. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have launched a joint search operation to trace him.
What Happened
The 31-year-old, a native of Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh, had boarded the Jan Shatabdi Express at Ranchi railway station at approximately 2.25 pm on Monday, accompanied by his colleague Gautam Kumar. Gupta was travelling to Patna ahead of the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Council election results.
Kumar has confirmed that both boarded the train together, but the circumstances of Gupta's disappearance remain unclear. According to initial reports, Gupta reportedly got off the train before it reached Muri Junction, and his whereabouts have not been established since.
Search Operation Under Way
Ashish Kumar Pandey, RPF Commandant for the Ranchi Railway Division, confirmed that a complaint has been registered at the Muri GRP police station. RPF and GRP teams are conducting a joint search operation. Investigators are reportedly examining multiple possibilities, including whether Gupta entered a nearby forest area or whether another incident occurred.
His mobile phone is switched off, and its last recorded activity was traced to around 2 am on Tuesday, according to the commandant. The investigation is ongoing, and no definitive explanation has yet been established.
Who Is Devpalik Gupta
Gupta is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, from the 2018 batch. He served as the digital communication manager for the Jan Suraaj Party, founded by political strategist Prashant Kishor. His family, friends, and colleagues have issued an appeal for any information that could help establish his whereabouts.
Background and Context
The Jan Suraaj Party, launched by Prashant Kishor, has been active in Bihar's political landscape ahead of key electoral events. Gupta's disappearance comes at a particularly charged political moment — the eve of the Bihar Legislative Council election results. This is the first reported missing-person case involving a member of the party's core team. Authorities have cautioned that investigations are at an early stage and have urged the public to refrain from speculation.
Point of View
Which authorities are right to discourage. What stands out is the gap between his last phone activity at 2 am Tuesday and when the alarm was raised, suggesting a window that investigators must account for carefully. The involvement of both RPF and GRP reflects the jurisdictional complexity of crimes or incidents on moving trains. Until the investigation produces verified answers, responsible reporting demands strict adherence to confirmed facts.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Devpalik Gupta and what is his connection to the Jan Suraaj Party?
Devpalik Gupta is a 31-year-old digital communication manager at the Jan Suraaj Party, the political outfit founded by strategist Prashant Kishor. He is a 2018 alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in Delhi and is originally from Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
When and where did Devpalik Gupta go missing?
Gupta went missing on Monday, 27 October 2026, during a journey on the Jan Shatabdi Express from Ranchi to Patna. He reportedly deboarded the train before it reached Muri Junction; his exact whereabouts remain unknown.
What is the status of the search operation?
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) have launched a joint search operation following a complaint registered at Muri GRP police station. Investigators are examining all possibilities, including whether Gupta entered a nearby forest. His phone last showed activity around 2 am on Tuesday.
Why was Gupta travelling from Ranchi to Patna?
Gupta was reportedly travelling to Patna ahead of the announcement of the Bihar Legislative Council election results, a key electoral event relevant to the Jan Suraaj Party's political activities in the state.
What should people do if they have information about Gupta's whereabouts?
His family, friends, and colleagues have issued a public appeal for any information that could help trace him. Those with relevant information are urged to contact local police or the Muri GRP police station, where the official complaint has been filed.
