Congress leader’s son murdered in Chhattisgarh: 3 contract killers arrested, mastermind on the run

In a major breakthrough, the Janjgir-Champa police have arrested three individuals in connection with the brutal murder of Ayush Kashyap, the 19-year-old son of a local Congress leader. The young student was gunned down inside his home in Karhi village on the intervening night of April 23 and 24. According to local authorities, the killing was the fallout of professional rivalry, financial disputes, and growing resentment over the family’s expanding sand and transport business.

The arrested accused have been identified as Hemant Kumar Baghel (23), Bhushan Baghel (23), and Amit Tandon (28), all residents of the same village. However, the prime mastermind behind the contract killing and a few other associates remain at large.

Midnight attack shaking Karhi village

The incident took place under the jurisdiction of the Birra police station. Late in the evening, three masked men managed to sneak into the residence of Sammelal Kashyap, a prominent cement-sand trader and former Block Congress Vice President.

Before executing the crime, the attackers locked the victim’s parents in their bedroom from the outside to prevent any immediate resistance. They then barged into the room where Ayush, a second-year BA LLB student, was sleeping alongside his younger brother Ashutosh (16) and sister Prerna. The assailants shot Ayush twice in the head and chest, killing him on the spot. Ashutosh, a Class 10 student, sustained a gunshot wound to his shoulder while attempting to save his brother.

Business rivalry behind the hit

Initial reports indicate that the murder was orchestrated out of jealousy over the family’s rapidly growing financial influence. Ayush had recently taken charge of his father's sand and gravel business, actively managing operations after acquiring new heavy machinery, including a JCB and a Hyva truck.

"The suspects confessed that they were envious of the young man's rising business clout and influence in the region," a senior police official familiar with the matter said. During interrogation, Bhushan Baghel revealed that his family had an ongoing financial dispute with the Kashyaps regarding an unpaid loan. This grudge, combined with intense corporate competition, prompted them to accept a hit contract. Disturbingly, sources revealed that Bhushan had previously taken a ₹7 lakh bounty in 2023 to assassinate Sammelal Kashyap, though that attempt had failed.

Inter-state manhunt nabs trio

Following the attack, the accused fled the state and took refuge in Gujarat, taking up manual labor jobs to blend in. The Chhattisgarh police launched a massive multi-state investigation dubbed 'Operation Hunt'. Joint teams from Korba, Janjgir, and Bilaspur districts tracked leads across seven states, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Delhi, and Jammu & Kashmir.

Investigators scanned over 200 CCTV footprints and utilized cyber surveillance to zero in on the suspects. Recognizing local patterns, the police summoned the trio back to Chhattisgarh under a pretext for questioning, where they eventually cracked and confessed to the crime.

Weapons recovered, hunt continues

Local authorities confirmed the recovery of a pistol, two magazines, and a motorcycle used during the commission of the crime. Ground-level cues indicate that the suspects had closely monitored the house, even destroying a CCTV camera mounted near the property just before breaking in to escape detection.

While the primary executioners are behind bars, Janjgir-Champa Superintendent of Police Vijay Kumar Pandey, who recently visited the grieving family in Karhi village, stated that the investigation is far from over. Teams are currently deployed to track down the exact source of the funding and apprehend the mastermind who ordered the hit on the Congress leader’s son.

The Jabalpur murder case has exposed a planned contract killing allegedly executed over a Rs 1 crore land dispute linked to agricultural property in Chhattisgarh. Police said civil engineer Clarence Atkins, also known as Raja, was shot dead on the morning of April 23 while returning home after dropping his five-year-old son to school in Jabalpur.

Investigators said the murder was allegedly orchestrated by the victim’s uncle and cousin, who hired shooters, conducted surveillance and tracked his movement before carrying out the attack in broad daylight.

Shot Near Crossing

According to officials, the 39-year-old was riding back home when two assailants on a black motorcycle intercepted him near Shiv Shakti Dawakhana in Ranjhi around 7.50 am. One of the attackers fired at close range, hitting Clarence in the head.

He collapsed on the spot, while the attackers fled towards Ranjhi. Police teams reached the scene soon after and began collecting evidence from the crime spot.

CCTV Trail Cracked

The investigation gained pace after police scanned CCTV footage from nearby areas and traced two suspects riding a black motorcycle without a registration number. Officers then mapped the escape route and began tracking those linked to the movement of the bike.

According to police, the attackers had already positioned themselves in the area and were waiting for Clarence to return home. Surveillance footage and local inputs helped investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.

Land Dispute Motive

Police said the motive behind the murder was a dispute over nearly 15 acres of agricultural land in Raipur, estimated to be worth around Rs 1 crore. Clarence had reportedly filed a civil suit over the property and secured a stay order seeking cancellation of a disputed registry.

Officials said this had triggered tensions within the family. Sources indicated that the victim had been pressured to withdraw the case and was allegedly threatened after refusing to back down.

Contract Killing Plan

Police said the murder was planned in advance by the victim’s uncle, identified as Vikas alias Baba alias Rinku Nelson, and his son Prince Nelson. Investigators alleged the duo hired multiple men for separate roles, including surveillance, tracking and execution.

As per reports, two accused first conducted reconnaissance near Clarence’s residence and alerted the shooters once he stepped out. The gunmen then followed him on another motorcycle and opened fire when they found an opportunity near the crossing.

Two Accused Arrested

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested two accused on Saturday. The first, Tejbal alias Arun Raikwar, 20, was detained near Deendayal Chowk. His interrogation led police to the second accused, Mohit Thakur, 20, who was arrested near Barela toll plaza.

Police said both men played a role in tracking the victim before the shooting. The two accused are now in custody and are being questioned for further leads.

Bikes, Phones Seized

Superintendent of Police Sampat Upadhyay said police seized two motorcycles, including a high-end Harley-Davidson allegedly used during the operation, and two mobile phones from the accused. Officials said the Harley-Davidson, reportedly worth around Rs 15 lakh, was used during surveillance and movement linked to the murder.

Police are still searching for the remaining accused, including Prince Nelson, Arpit Kushwaha and Vikas Nelson, who are believed to be central to the conspiracy.

Probe Widens Ahead

The Jabalpur murder case has drawn sharp attention because of the methodical planning, family link and contract killing angle. Investigators are now examining financial transactions, call records and movement patterns to establish the full chain of conspiracy. Police said more arrests are likely as the investigation expands.

Brother’s Supari Plot Leads to Retired Officer’s Murder in Mungeli

Police in Chhattisgarh’s Mungeli district have cracked a sensational murder case in which a retired accounts officer was allegedly killed on the orders of his younger brother over a family property dispute worth several crores. The accused paid a supari of ₹10.5 lakh and 50 decimal land to eliminate his elder sibling and grab assets including land and gold.

The victim, 62-year-old Damodar Singh Rajput, a retired accounts officer from the education department, went missing on March 21 after leaving Mungeli for his ancestral village Jhafal to attend a family function. His body was later recovered from a forest in neighbouring Kawardha district.

Supari Deal for Elimination

According to police, the younger brother Ranjeet Singh Rajput masterminded the conspiracy along with his brother-in-law and cousin. They hired local men to carry out the killing. Sources indicated that an advance payment of ₹4.5 lakh was made as part of the deal.

The plot unfolded when Damodar Singh was lured on the pretext of attending a Durga Puja event. On the way, in a secluded spot near Manoharpur in the Lalpur police station area, the assailants stopped his motorcycle. They allegedly strangled him with a gamchha before stuffing the body into a car.

Body Dumped in Forest

When one vehicle developed a snag en route, the accused shifted the body to another car belonging to one of the accomplices. They drove to the Dexsay forest area in Kawardha, dug a pit near a river, and buried the body in sand to conceal evidence. To create the impression that the victim had left home to become a sadhu, they sent his mobile phone to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh and had it thrown into the Ganga river.

Police Crack the Case

Investigators swung into action after family members reported Damodar Singh missing. His motorcycle was found abandoned near a rice mill in Manoharpur. CCTV footage from entry-exit points across Mungeli district played a crucial role. A grey car (CG 10 AC 8986) was spotted tailing the victim’s bike.

Questioning of the car owner led police to Sanjay Yadav, who had rented the vehicle. Intense interrogation revealed the names of the masterminds. On Monday evening, police arrested 15 accused, including Ranjeet Singh Rajput, his brother-in-law Pareshwar Singh (a former Congress nagar panchayat elder), cousin Rampal Singh Rajput, and several others. Four minors were also detained.

Family Property Feud at Core

Probe revealed that Damodar Singh had been embroiled in a long-standing property dispute with his son. The accused allegedly exploited this family discord to hatch the plan. They even prepared a fake notary document claiming the victim wanted to transfer his assets to his brothers and nephews while severing ties with his son.

Reports suggest this was not the first attempt. In 2025, the victim had narrowly escaped an alleged bid on his life staged as a road accident.

Police recovered two cars, a bike, a moped, and ₹96,000 in cash from the accused. All adult accused were produced in court and sent to judicial custody, while the minors were sent to an observation home.

Senior Officials Brief Media

During a press conference, police officials detailed how the conspiracy was unravelled through technical surveillance, CCTV analysis, and sustained interrogation. They described the killing as a cold-blooded contract murder driven purely by greed for property estimated at around ₹4 crore, including land and 30 tola of gold.

Impact on Local Community

The gruesome murder has sent shockwaves through the quiet villages of Mungeli and Lormi areas. Residents expressed concern over rising cases of familial disputes turning violent. Local leaders have called for stricter monitoring of property-related conflicts in rural Chhattisgarh.

The case also highlights the misuse of fake documents in land grab attempts. Authorities indicated that further investigation is underway to check if more people were involved in forging papers or disposing of assets.

What Lies Ahead

With key accused behind bars, police are now focusing on recovering any sold or transferred property and tracing the full flow of supari money. Forensic examination of the body and vehicles is expected to strengthen the case. Legal experts say the involvement of multiple family members could lead to stringent charges under IPC sections for murder, conspiracy, and kidnapping.

As the investigation progresses, this case serves as a grim reminder of how deep-rooted property feuds can destroy families in rural India. Police have appealed to citizens to resolve disputes through legal means rather than taking the law into their own hands.