Picture for representational purpose only

INDORE: A 35-year-old Congress sarpanch was riddled with arrows and stoned to death at his home in Balwari Kala panchayat of Dhar district of MP on Sunday. The act was allegedly carried out by a BJP worker, making it the first political murder in the run-up to an election in at least 15 years.

Sarpanch Najru Bhil's body was found with nine arrows piercing his face, head and back. He died on the spot, Dhar SP Birendra Singh said, adding that the main accused was BJP's Sooraj Singh, who had lost to Najru in the last local body polls. Police have registered a case against Singh and 21 others. Political violence is very rare in MP. No one can remember the last time electoral rivalry led to a murder.

Balwari Kala panchayat is in Gandhwani constituency, which elected Congress' Uman Singhar in 2008 and 2013 assembly elections.

Enmity between Najru and Singh has been festering since the last local polls, said the SP. Villagers said Najru was known for his organizational skills and Congress was banking on him in the panchayat area.

"The sarpanch was returning home on a bike when he spotted the accused. They started following him and attacked him outside his home in Bhutiapura village. He ran into his house where the accused shot arrows at him and hit him with bricks," said ASP Rupesh Dwivedi.

