At least 25 farmers in Ganeshpura village of Guna district in Madhya Pradesh have been forced to sell their land at throwaway prices and leave the village. The alleged land grab has been going on for years and whoever dared to resist were either assaulted or driven out. The matter came to light when a farmer was brutally killed by a local political leader and his aides over a land dispute.
On 26 October 2025, the deceased Ramswaroop Dhakad was attacked by Mahendra Nagar, the BJP Booth Committee President and a former office bearer of Guna Kisan Morcha, while he was going to his field with his wife. In a horrific unfolding of events, the victim was first ambushed, beaten by sticks and rods, and then runover by a Thar jeep.
The deceased farmer’s refusal to surrender 10 bighas of land in Ganeshpura to the demands led to the attack. The police stated that the attack was linked to another land dispute over 6 bighas of land between the victim’s relative and Nagar’s relative in the adjoining Pachlawada village. The deceased’s family owned 22 bighas of land, which was used for agricultural activities.
As per the complaint made at Fatehgarh Police Station, the daughters of the deceased farmer who attempted to save his life were assaulted by Nagar as allegedly one of them was pinned to the ground and clothes of both daughters were torn. The injured farmer was prevented from being taken to district hospital for nearly an hour. He was later declared dead during treatment.
Locals claimed that the politically influential accused has for years threatened small landowners in the area to sell their plots at throwaway prices. The frightened villagers and residents demanded swift action against the accused.
An FIR was registered against Nagar, three women from his family and 10 others at the Fatehgarh Police Station charging the accused of murder, molestation, and criminal conspiracy under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023.
Meanwhile, the BJP expelled Mahendra Nagar. The suspended leader was arrested by the police on 29 October 2025, while three other main accused were also reported to have been arrested. The accused, Nagar, already faces five criminal cases, including rape, loot and forgery. He is also reported to have encroached upon forest land and having illegally erected electric poles to supply electricity from Madhya Pradesh to adjoining Rajasthan district.
It was reported that the local administration freed large tracts of forest land encroached by the accused and aides in multiple villages of Fatehgarh Police Station area.
The incident and its brutality highlight the influence exercised by strongman political figures in land transactions in countryside.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to free tracts of private and forest land encroached by Mahendra Nagar and his aides; Demand to prosecute and bring justice to the accused
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
4
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Grazing
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Land Reform Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Killing
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
The farmer, Ramswaroop Dhakad, was beaten with sticks and rods, and then run over by an MUV car, leading to his death. His daughters, who tried to save him, were allegedly dragged, their clothes torn and beaten in front of villagers. The act was committed by Mahendra Nagar, the BJP Booth Committee President and a former office bearer of Guna Kisan Morcha, along with his aides.
Date of Violation
October 25, 2025
Location of Violation
Ganeshpura Village
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
4
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
