The incident occurred at Babupur where nearly 25 huts of tribals were allegedly set afire by ex-BJP corporator Dharmendra Singh Ghoordang,(45) who was externed from Satna district following registration of many criminal cases in different police stations along with his men, police said.
The tribals had erected their huts on a government land and Dharmendra was trying to encroach on it, police said.
In the fire, a tribal identified as Jaganpal who went inside his hut for taking out his belongings got trapped and died of burn injuries.
Enraged over his death, other members of the community allegedly launched an attack on the BJP leader and his men with sharp-edged weapons and not only killed them but in the fit of rage also cut their bodies into several pieces.
Those killed by tribals were identified as Dharmendra, his associate Bittu Singh (40) and Veeru Singh (45), police said.
After the incident, senior police officials including Satna SP, Hari Singh Yadav and others reached the village.
The situation is under control in the village, police said, adding so far no arrests have been made.