The New Indian Express ·
Politics
CJP chief Dipke visits tribal families in MP's Balaghat, seeks accountability over child deaths
BHOPAL: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke on Saturday visited villages in southeastern Madhya Pradesh’s tribal-dominated Balaghat district, where over 30 Baiga and Gond children have reportedly died since July 2026 due to multiple health problems.
Speaking to reporters, Dipke said, "We completely sympathise with families who have lost their children and will definitely come forward to ensure justice for them."
Alleging inaction by the administration, he said, "We have come only to fix responsibility and accountability. We’ll raise the issue in a big way. Our local team was being pressurized on Friday by the authorities, but we’re not going to get scared."
Dipke’s visit was also marked by a group of social media influencers and content creators, whom local journalists said had not been seen earlier in the area, questioning him about the deaths.
Videos showing some young social media influencers and local residents surrounding Dipke’s car and questioning him over the delay in his arrival to meet the bereaved families went viral on social media.
"Are you here to play politics on dead bodies, why did you arrive here after delay of so many days, what stopped you from coming here in the past," a group of youngsters, who appeared to be social media influencers and content creators, could be heard asking Dipke in the videos.
He could be seen apologising for the delay in reaching the area to meet the families.
A local journalist in Balaghat who was present in Kundekhasa village, one of the places visited by Dipke, said the CJP founder could meet only a few families during his visit.
Deaths of over 30 children have been reported in Baiga- and Gond-dominated villages in Balaghat’s Baihar assembly constituency since July 2026.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently directed the state government to place on record documents related to the deaths of the tribal children in Balaghat district.
The exact toll and medical circumstances surrounding the individual deaths have been the subject of evolving official assessments. A Centre-led investigation has so far reportedly found no single disease or pathogen responsible for the fatalities. Instead, officials have identified a range of clinical conditions, including measles, malaria, co-infections, respiratory distress, dehydration, malnutrition, anaemia and shock.
