BJP leader shot dead in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni; political row erupts after allegations of ‘love jihad’ link
A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was shot dead in broad daylight in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni district on Tuesday, sparking tension, street protests, and political allegations.
The victim, Neelu (Nilesh) Rajak, 38, served as President of the BJP Pichda Morcha Mandal in Kaimor town.
According to police, Rajak was shot in the head and chest by two men on a motorcycle around 11 a.m. while riding his bike through a busy market area.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants, both wearing masks, fired multiple rounds before fleeing, leaving Rajak collapsed on the road.
A video of the shooting has gone viral on social media, heightening outrage across the region.
Protests erupt, roads blocked for hours
Soon after the incident, hundreds of residents and BJP supporters gathered outside the Vijayraghavgarh Government Hospital, where Rajak’s body was taken. His family refused to allow the post-mortem until the attackers were arrested.
The protest, which lasted over six hours, saw road blockades and slogans demanding justice. Senior BJP leaders, including MLA Sanjay Pathak and District President Deepak Tandon Soni, joined the demonstration.
Katni Superintendent of Police Abhinay Vishwakarma said the accused have been identified as Prince (30) and Akram Khan (33).
In a tragic twist, Prince’s father, Nelson Joseph, allegedly died by suicide after learning about his son’s alleged involvement in the murder.
“We have launched an intensive search operation,” SP Vishwakarma said, adding that a Town Inspector and head constable have been attached to police lines for negligence in handling earlier complaints.
Political and communal overtones
The incident took a political turn after BJP MLA Sanjay Pathak alleged that Rajak was targeted because he had intervened in a case involving a girl’s harassment, which he linked to “love jihad.”
Pathak claimed that Rajak had earlier been threatened by one of the accused after confronting him.
“He said, ‘I will shoot you in the middle of the road,’ and today he did,” Pathak alleged, calling for a wider investigation into the case.
Pathak described Rajak as the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes a five-year-old daughter, an eleven-year-old son, and his elderly mother.
To prevent communal tensions, Deputy Inspector General (Jabalpur Range) Atul Singh led a flag march in Kaimor, while police patrols were intensified across sensitive areas.
SP Vishwakarma reiterated that strict action would be taken against those responsible. “Both main accused- Akram and Prince- have been identified and are being tracked. We will not spare anyone involved,” he said.
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