2 men involved in BJP’s leader murder held after encounter:Both sustained bullet injuries in Katni; admitted to Jabalpur Medical College

The Katni police arrested two accused involved in the murder of BJP leader Nilesh Rajak after a brief encounter late Wednesday night in the Kymore area. The accused, Akram Khan and Prince Joseph, were injured in police firing when they allegedly opened fire on the police team. Both have been admitted to Jabalpur Medical College for treatment. Police firing and arrest According to ASP Dr. Santosh Kumar Dehariya, the police received a tip-off that both accused were hiding in the Kajrawara locality. Acting on the input, a team surrounded the area around 2 AM. Seeing the police, the accused opened fire. In retaliation, the police fired four rounds, injuring both accused in their hands and legs.
The accused were immediately overpowered, arrested, and taken for medical treatment under tight security. BJP leader shot dead in broad daylight The murder took place on Tuesday morning around 11 AM, when BJP’s Backward Class Morcha Mandal President, Nilesh Rajak, was shot by two men on a bike near Bank of Baroda, Kymore.
He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The incident created tension across the region, prompting senior officials to rush to the spot. Following the killing, SP Abhinav Vishwakarma attached Kymore Station In-Charge Inspector Arvind Chaubey and Head Constable Prem Shankar Patel to the police line for alleged negligence. Family protested for seven hours After the incident, Rajak’s family members and supporters staged a chakka jam (road blockade) outside the hospital. They refused to allow the postmortem until the culprits were caught.
Police officials and local leaders intervened, and only after seven hours of protest and assurances of swift action did the family agree to the postmortem. Accused’s father commits suicide In a shocking development, Nelson Joseph, the father of the accused Prince Joseph, died by suicide hours after the murder.
According to family members, Nelson returned home around 11:30 AM, appeared calm, and later locked himself in a room. When he did not open the door, family members peeped through a window and found him hanging. Police are investigating the suicide angle as part of the case. High-level political attention The murder sparked strong reactions from BJP leaders.
State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal spoke to the Katni district administration and urged the immediate arrest of the culprits. He also discussed the issue with Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, demanding strict action.
Considering the rising tension, Jabalpur DIG Atul Singh led a flag march in Kymore to restore peace and reassure the public of law and order. Old dispute behind the murder According to Vijayaraghavgarh MLA Sanjay Pathak, the accused and the victim had a dispute about one and a half months ago.
A school student from DAV School had earlier complained that a Muslim youth was harassing her. When Nilesh Rajak intervened and tried to counsel the accused, a scuffle broke out. Both sides filed counter FIRs at that time.
MLA Pathak said, “Akram had openly threatened Rajak, saying, ‘I’ll shoot you in the middle of the road.’ Today that threat has turned into reality.” He added that he has spoken to the Chief Minister and BJP President, both of whom have assured the strictest possible punishment to those responsible. Nilesh Rajak’s political journey Nilesh Rajak had been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for nearly 18 years.
In 2023–24, he was appointed Mandal President of the BJP OBC Morcha, and also served as a Booth President.
He was considered a close aide of former Minister and sitting MLA Sanjay Satyendra Pathak from Vijayaraghavgarh constituency. Apart from politics, Rajak was also linked with Bajrang Dal and worked as a vendor at the ACC Cement Plant in Kymore. Police investigation and evidence Vijayraghavgarh SDOP Virendra Dharve said that CCTV footage from the crime scene clearly shows the two accused arriving on a motorcycle and firing at Rajak.
“Teams have been formed, and we are continuously investigating. The accused will not be spared under any circumstances,” the SDOP added. The murder site is close to the ACC Guest House, and forensic teams have collected evidence, including empty cartridges and CCTV footage, to strengthen the case. Law and order situation under control Police officials confirmed that the situation in Kymore is now under control, though heavy security remains deployed across sensitive areas.
Community leaders have appealed for peace and urged the public not to spread rumors on social media.