Katni Murder Case: BJP Booth President Nilesh Rajak Shot Dead in Broad Daylight; Accused's Father Hangs Himself, Mother Consumes Poison

A wave of shock and anger has engulfed Katni district in Madhya Pradesh after BJP booth president and Bajrang Dal leader Nilesh alias Neelu Rajak was shot dead in broad daylight on Tuesday. The incident occurred near the Bank of Baroda in Kaimor market, where two masked men on a motorcycle ambushed Nilesh and fired multiple bullets into his back before fleeing. The grievously injured leader was rushed to the Vijayraghavgarh Health Center, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as chaotic, with people rushing to help Nilesh even as the assailants sped away. CCTV footage from the area shows two masked men tailing Nilesh on his motorcycle before executing the attack in just 12 seconds. Police recovered blood-stained clothes and bullet casings from the site, and the footage has become key evidence in the investigation.

As news of the murder spread, Kaimor erupted in protest. BJP workers, Bajrang Dal members, and local Hindu organizations shut down the entire market, staged a sit-in outside the health center, and raised slogans demanding immediate justice. Protesters accused the police of negligence, claiming that they were aware of threats against Nilesh but failed to provide him protection. The situation grew tense, prompting the administration to deploy heavy police force to prevent escalation.

Police later identified the prime suspects as Prince Joseph and his associate Akram Khan, both residents of the Amariyapar area. Officials revealed that a personal dispute between Nilesh and the accused had intensified in recent days, eventually leading to the fatal attack. Following the murder, both men absconded. When police raided their homes, they found that Prince Joseph’s father had died by suicide, and his mother had attempted the same by consuming poison. She remains in critical condition at Katni District Hospital.

The incident has sparked a major political and communal uproar. Vijayraghavgarh MLA Sanjay Pathak visited the site and met Nilesh’s family, calling the murder “an attack on the self-respect of society.” He accused the police of failing to act despite clear warnings of tension and demanded severe punishment for the culprits. Pathak further alleged that the incident was linked to an attempted molestation by the accused, which Nilesh had resisted, leading to his killing.