Seven held for killing 65-year-old farmer, looted valuables recovered in Rajkot

RAJKOT: Four days after a farmer — who also used to work as traditional healer — was killed, the Rajkot rural police arrested seven persons for the crime on Monday. The 65-year-old Mavji Vasani was found murdered in Devpara village of Jasdan taluka of Rajkot district on early morning of July 1.
“Vasani was strangled to death at his farm on the outskirts of Devpara village. We found objects scattered around in his room and suspected that the man was murdered with the intention of carrying out the loot,” a police official said.
A Police probe revealed that the victim was lured by two women — Rajal Dodia (38) and Pooja Solanki (35). The accused knew that Vasani kept cash and valuables at his farm room. Rajal and her husband Hitesh Dodia (45) hatched a plan to first kill him and later carry out the loot.
“Hitesh hired five labourers, all native of Rajasthan, to carry out murder and loot. We have arrested Hitesh, Rajal, Pooja and the four labourers — Anand Sing Kotval, (21), Vikas Swami (20), Nitesh Jahangir (24), Sandeep Pasania (22). Another labourer Amit is on the run,” police said.
Police recovered Rs 1.67 lakh cash, gold ornaments worth Rs 92,000, silver jewellery worth Rs 2.35 lakh, an auto-rickshaw, eight mobile phones and a bike from the accused.