Gujarat: Three-year-old affair ends in 24-year-old man’s murder in Gariyadhar

RAJKOT: A three-year-old love affair between a man and a woman belonging to different communities has ended in the brutal murder of the former in Gariyadhar town of Bhavnagar district.
Police arrested five persons who had thrashed the victim Kalpesh Dhanvaniya so badly that he succumbed on the way to Bhavnagar’s Sir T Hospital on June 22 night.
Those arrested were the woman Kajal Rabari’s uncle Sura Rabari, cousin brother Jaga Rabari and three other community men - Pacha Rabari, Kalu Rabari and Jika Rabari. Gariyadhar police officials told TOI that Kalpesh and Kajal were in a relationship for the last three years. “A year ago, they had eloped from their homes and Kalpesh was arrested under Prevention of Crimes Against Children (Pocso) as Kajal was minor then,” said investigating officer HR Padhiyar.
When Kalpesh was in jail, Kajal’s parents married her off to a man from their community. But a miffed Kajal continued to live with her parents in their native Mesanka village adjoining Gariyadhar.
Meanwhile, after Kalpesh was released on bail few months after his arrest, the duo got in touch again and continued their relationship.
On June 4, they both eloped again, but returned to Gariyadhar two days later and started living at the house of Kalpesh’s friends. Sura and others, who were hot on the couple’s trail, got information about their whereabouts on June 22.
“The five arrested accused forcibly took Kalpesh and Kajal on their bikes to a forest area near Thasa village. Here, they broke Kalpesh’s both legs and hands with iron pipes and bats and took away Kajal, leaving him in a serious condition in the forest area,” said Padhiyar.
When someone noticed him writhing in pain, a 108 emergency service ambulance was called and Kalpesh was taken to a local government hospital in Gariyadhar. As he was unconscious, doctors referred him Sir T Hospital, but he died on the way.
The five persons were arrested on Tuesday following a complaint lodged by Kalpesh’s younger brother Arvind, who works as a diamond polisher. Kalpesh earned his living by doing odd jobs and labour work.