Slain BJP leader Dhakad’s girlfriend speaks to Bhaskar:Claims she was also targeted; father hired contract killers to murder his own son in Mandsaur

The mystery surrounding the chilling murder of local BJP leader Shyamlal Dhakad in Hingoria Bada village, under Nahargarh police station in Mandsaur district, has been unravelled by police. Investigators revealed that the alleged mastermind behind the crime was not an external rival, but his own 65-year-old father, Daulataram Dhakad. According to the Police, Daulataram hired contract killers for Rs 5 lakh to murder his son, inside their own house and in his presence, fearing Shyamlal would transfer his entire property to his illicit girlfriend, Sana Khan. The revelation has left the village stunned, with anger, fear and disbelief in the air.
The Dainik Bhaskar team visited the village and deceased’s house that is now surrounded by silence and fear, and spoke to the deceased’s girlfriend, Sana Khan and family members. Here, they spoke to the villagers, as well as Sana Khan’s and Shyamlal’s relatives. Read the report… “They tried to kill me too,” says Sana Khan Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Sana Khan claimed that Daulataram had also issued a contract to kill her. She alleged that her house was attacked twice and that she narrowly escaped both times. As the key figure in the case, Sana’s account sheds light on her relationship with Shyamlal and the events leading up to his murder. To understand the full story, Bhaskar’s team visited Hingoria Bada village. A home of silence and grief Just 500 metres from the Nahargarh police station, a narrow lane of mud houses leads to a small, unfinished home with no doors on its rooms. Two cages with chirping birds sit in the veranda, oblivious to the tragedy outside. Inside, Sana Khan showed a room where a photograph lay on a double bed. Before any questions could be asked, she picked it up and broke down. The picture showed her with Shyamlal. Through tears, she said, “In this difficult life, Shyam was the only one who loved me—and society snatched him away.” “Shyam saved me from suicide” After regaining composure, Sana shared her story. Originally from Harda, she said she lost her parents early. Years ago, she married into a Hindu family and moved to Hingoria Bada, but her marital life was troubled. She said she did not initially know Shyamlal personally. Their families were acquainted, and he would occasionally visit. During frequent domestic disputes, Shyamlal tried to mediate and offered small help. “One day, things got so bad that I went to a well to end my life,” she recalled. “Shyamlal saved me. That’s when I saw a good human being in him.” Their bond grew stronger, she said, as both found peace in each other’s company. Murder and aftermath Sana said her name was dragged into the case immediately after Shyamlal’s murder. On the night of July 17, a day before the killing, the two were together. They had dinner at a hotel and spoke until 10:30 pm. “He said he was sleepy and we would talk in the morning. He used to call me first thing every day,” she said. “That morning, the call never came. I later found out he had been murdered. My world collapsed.” She attempted to go to his house but was stopped by people. She spent the day crying, struggling to comprehend how the man she was with the night before was suddenly gone. Family in deep shock Shyamlal’s house—known as Naima Sadan—stands at the end of a narrow lane. The walls have faded, and an eerie silence hangs over the place. It was on the upper floor of this house that the murder was carried out on the night of July 17. Inside, Shyamlal’s elderly grandmother sat quietly, barely able to hear. His sister, who has been staying there since the incident, led reporters to the locked room where the murder occurred. Dust coated everything, indicating no one had entered since that night. The bed where Shyamlal’s blood-soaked body was found still lay there. “My father has been at the police station for days,” the sister said. “Today he’s being produced in court. Police took Shyamlal’s wife and son this morning.” “We can’t believe father did this” Police say Daulataram has confessed, stating he feared his son would transfer land and property to Sana Khan. However, the family is struggling to accept this. “He couldn’t have done this,” Shyamlal’s sister said. “We just can’t believe it.” How police cracked the case The murder posed a major challenge for investigators. Shyamlal’s body was found on July 18, and the post-mortem confirmed death by a sharp weapon. On July 20, a video of Shyamlal with Sana Khan surfaced. Call details between the then station in-charge Prabhat Gaur and Sana also emerged. Following this, the officer was attached to the police lines and the investigation was handed over to Varun Tiwari. On July 26, police questioned over 25 people, including family members and friends. During this time, Daulataram allegedly pressured police and even submitted memorandums to the SP with community representatives. On November 3, he reportedly met the Chief Minister as part of a delegation, demanding swift arrest of his son’s killers. Breakthrough after six months Mandsaur ASP TS Baghel said investigators suspected the involvement of someone familiar with the house due to the nature of the crime. Police closely monitored movements in the village. On December 11, suspicion fell on a few youths. Under questioning, they named Daulataram. Taken into custody, he allegedly broke down and confessed to plotting the murder with his associate Gopal Dhakad. Police say Daulataram hired Rangalal Bachhda, Sumit Bachhda and Atlu Bachhda for ₹5 lakh. On the night of July 16, he allegedly mixed sedatives into the family’s food and then let the killers into the house to murder his son. Village living under fear and suspicion Since the revelation, Hingoria Bada has been tense. Villagers have demanded the demolition of the killers’ house, but police explained that as the main accused belonged to the same household, demolishing it would render other family members homeless. Residents say Shyamlal was known as a kind and helpful person. “We are barely 500 people here,” said a villager. “This murder terrified everyone. No one imagined a father could kill his own son.” A local shopkeeper added, “He was polite and well-mannered. It’s unbelievable that his own father got him killed.”