Ahmedabad Road Rage Tragedy: Minor Collision Escalates into Fatal Assault
A seemingly trivial traffic incident in Ahmedabad has culminated in a shocking and tragic loss of life, highlighting the deadly consequences of unchecked road rage. What began as a minor collision between a car and a motorcycle swiftly descended into a brutal assault that claimed the life of a 60-year-old retired government employee.
Fatal Altercation at Gota Crossroads
The Sola High Court police have apprehended two individuals in connection with the death of Alpesh Mehta, a resident of Chandlodia. The incident unfolded near the Gota Prasang Party Plot Crossroads at approximately 10:30 PM on Thursday. According to official reports, Mehta was operating his vehicle when it experienced a minor impact with a motorcycle.
This initial contact, however, triggered an immediate and violent reaction from the two men on the motorcycle. Identified as Amit Vaghela and Keval Vaghela, both aged 20, the duo allegedly became enraged following the accident. They proceeded to launch a ferocious physical attack on the senior citizen.
Son's Harrowing Account of the Attack
A formal complaint was lodged on Friday by the victim's son, Harit Mehta, aged 32 and residing in Shela. His statement provides a chilling narrative of the events. Harit recounted receiving a distressing call from his sister, Ushma, around 11 PM, informing him that his father was involved in an altercation and had been taken to the Sola police station.
"Upon reaching Pakwan Crossroads," the complaint details, "my brother-in-law Sameer contacted me to relay that my father had been transferred from the police station to Sola Civil Hospital for urgent medical attention."
Further inquiries revealed the horrifying details from an eyewitness, Janardan Patel. Patel reported that after the minor accident, the two assailants began hurling abusive language at Alpesh Mehta. Their aggression quickly turned physical; they shattered the driver's side window of his car and subjected him to a relentless barrage of punches targeting his face, head, and chest. The assault was so severe that it caused Mehta to bleed profusely from his mouth and nose.
Police Intervention and Legal Action
Janardan Patel intervened at the scene and alerted the police control room. Subsequently, all three individuals—Mehta and the two accused—were transported to the Sola police station. Due to the gravity of his injuries, Alpesh Mehta was later shifted to Sola Civil Hospital for treatment, where he succumbed.
Sola police inspector K N Bhukhan confirmed that the murder was a direct result of the road rage incident, with no other underlying motive discovered. "The murder was a fallout of the minor incident, and both the accused were arrested. There was no other motive for the murder," he stated.
The police have registered a case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 103(1) for murder
- Section 115(2) for voluntarily causing hurt
- Section 324(2) for mischief
- Section 54 for being an abettor present when the offence is committed
The charges have been filed against both Amit Vaghela and Keval Vaghela.
Background of the Accused
Investigations into the backgrounds of the arrested individuals reveal that both were employed on a contractual basis with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Sola ward. Their duties involved dead-animal disposal work.
- Amit Vaghela, a resident of Ghatlodia with origins in Kansa village, Patan district, had been employed in this role for approximately two months.
- Keval Vaghela, also residing in Ghatlodia and hailing from Anand district, had joined the workforce just a fortnight prior to the incident.
This tragic episode in Ahmedabad serves as a grim reminder of how quickly tempers can flare on the road, transforming a simple mishap into an irreversible catastrophe. The community and authorities are now left to grapple with the senseless violence that has robbed a family of their loved one.
