Rajkot: An extramarital affair ostensibly led to a man and his father being hacked to death in their sleep by three men, including the brother and husband of the man's lover, in a Surendranagar village in the early hours of Thursday.
The victims were identified as Bhavesh Bajaniya (27) and his father, Ghugha (60).
Bhavesh's brother, Rajesh, registered a complaint at Thangadh police station. He stated that Bhavesh was romantically involved with Sangeeta, who had been married to one Dinesh Sapra against her wishes six months ago.
Acrimony erupted between Sangeeta and her husband a month into the marriage, when he learned about her affair. Sangeeta then left Dinesh and started living with Bhavesh at Surai village in Chotila taluka.
The couple went to Bhavesh's parents house in Thangadh for Diwali festivities.
At about 1.30am on Thursday, Dinesh, his uncle Jesa Sapra and Sangeeta's brother Dinesh Sabarliya, slipped onto Bajaniya's farm, armed with knives and sticks.
Ghugha and his wife, Manju, were sleeping on the veranda, while Bhavesh and Sangeeta were inside the house. The assailants attacked Ghugha, inflicting severe head and back injuries, and stabbed Manju when she tried to intervene.
They then entered the house and attacked Bhavesh and Sangeeta before dragging her outside. The attackers fled when the family raised the alarm, after which Manju called her son and relatives who took the injured to hospital.
Police said Bhavesh and Ghugha suffered multiple wounds and lost a lot of blood.
Bhavesh was pronounced dead at Thangadh govt hospital. Ghugha and Sangeeta were referred to Rajkot Civil Hospital, where the former succumbed.
Police have charged Sabaliya, Sapra and Jesa under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections 103(1) (murder), 109(1) (attempt to commit murder), 118(1) (causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) among others.