Police in Madhya Pradesh have launched a murder investigation following the shocking death of a senior local BJP leader who was found slain inside his home in the Mandsaur district on Friday. The incident has sent ripples through the political landscape of the Malhargarh Assembly constituency, which is represented by Deputy Chief Minister and veteran legislator Jagdish Devda.
The victim, 45-year-old Shyamlal Dhakad, was serving as the vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Budha Mandal. According to police officials, his lifeless body was discovered by his son in the early hours of the day when he went to deliver tea to his father’s room, located on the terrace of their residence.
Superintendent of Police Abhishek Anand confirmed that Dhakad had sustained multiple fatal injuries inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon. “Initial observations suggest a targeted and brutal assault. The room showed signs of forced entry, possibly through a makeshift shed that connects the premises,” Anand stated. A detailed autopsy report is currently awaited to determine the exact cause and time of death.
While police have yet to officially declare a motive, early suspicions indicate that the murder may be politically motivated or the result of personal enmity. Dhakad, known for his active grassroots involvement and loyalty to the BJP, had recently overseen several local outreach programs under the party’s ongoing voter mobilization strategy ahead of the 2028 elections.
Authorities have begun questioning neighbors and examining CCTV footage from nearby homes in an effort to piece together the timeline leading to the crime. Forensic teams were also dispatched to collect evidence from the crime scene, including blood samples and potential fingerprints.
In the politically sensitive region of Malhargarh, such an attack has heightened security concerns for local party workers. Senior BJP leaders from the district, including MLA Jagdish Devda, have expressed shock over the murder, calling it an attack on democracy and the grassroots political fabric of the region.
“This is not just a murder of a party worker, but a blow to the very spirit of public service. Shyamlal was a committed worker who represented the voice of the common man. We demand swift justice,” said a local BJP spokesperson while addressing reporters.
The murder comes amid a broader national context where violence against political activists has occasionally erupted, often tied to factional rivalries, ideological confrontations, or criminal elements attempting to assert dominance over local politics. Experts point out that smaller political units—like Mandals and Panchayats—often become flashpoints of power struggles, especially in areas where political allegiance can sway development funds and influence law enforcement priorities.
Meanwhile, residents of the Budha Mandal area have called for enhanced police patrolling and greater protection for political workers, particularly in remote or semi-urban parts of Mandsaur, where law enforcement presence is comparatively thinner.
With the case gaining attention at the state level, Madhya Pradesh Home Department officials have also reportedly sought updates from district authorities. A reward may soon be announced for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator(s).
As of now, police are continuing their investigation with multiple teams deployed across potential hideouts and neighboring districts. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of the attacker being known to the victim, given the localized nature of the crime.
The death of Shyamlal Dhakad marks yet another grim reminder of the risks faced by political workers on the front lines of India’s democratic machinery. The BJP, which remains in power in Madhya Pradesh, is likely to demand swift action to reassure its cadre and prevent the incident from escalating into a broader law and order issue.
