BJP Leader Shot Dead in Madhya Pradesh: Political Murder Sparks Communal Tensions

The accused have been identified and police are looking for them.

Bhopal:

A BJP leader was fatally shot by two individuals while riding his motorcycle in Madhya Pradesh's Katni district on Tuesday, triggering widespread panic and political controversy. Following the incident, the father of one alleged attacker died by suicide after learning about his son's involvement in the crime.

Neelu (Nilesh) Rajak, 38, the Katni BJP Pichda Morcha Mandal President, was traveling on his bike in Kaimor town around 11 am when two men on a motorcycle shot him in the head and chest. A widely circulated video shows two masked individuals carrying out the shooting.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos and panic in the nearby market, with multiple gunshots heard and Rajak collapsing on the road. Shortly after the killing, hundreds of local residents gathered in the streets, demanding immediate arrest of the perpetrators. Family members and supporters of Rajak blocked roads outside the Vijayraghavgarh Government Hospital, refusing to permit a postmortem until justice was served.

The protest continued for over six hours with BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak and BJP District President Deepak Tandon Soni joining the demonstrators.

Police later identified the accused as Prince, 30, and Akram Khan, 33. According to officials, Prince's father, Nelson Joseph, committed suicide after discovering his son's alleged involvement.

"We have identified the accused and launched an intensive search operation," said Katni Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinay Vishwakarma. "The TI (Town Inspector) and head-constable have been attached to the police lines for negligence".

Politician's Claim

The incident has escalated into a political and communal issue after BJP MLA and former minister Sanjay Pathak alleged that Rajak was murdered because he intervened in a case of 'love jihad' (a term used by some right-wing organizations to allege attempted conversion of Hindu girls and women by Muslim men).

"A girl had complained that a man was harassing her on her way to school. When Neelu intervened, the man threatened to bomb him. The issue escalated, and when Neelu went to the police station, action was taken against him and not the harasser. He told Neelu, 'I will shoot you in the middle of the road'. A month-and-a-half later, he kept his word," Pathak stated.

"Neelu had a five-year-old daughter and an eleven-year-old son. His mother is elderly. He was the only earning member. This is not just a murder, it is a message. Some businessmen, policemen, and outsiders are involved. They must be investigated. The accused have also said that they will eliminate me, but I am ready to sacrifice myself for Hindutva," he claimed.

Jabalpur Deputy Inspector of Police Atul Singh led a flag march through Kaimor to prevent communal tensions.

SP Vishwakarma promised prompt arrests. "We have said from the beginning that strict action will be taken against those responsible. Two main accused have been identified - Akram and Prince - and are being hunted down. The TI has been negligent."