A tragic case of suspected honour killing in Rajasthan has turned into a double-murder investigation after the death of the second victim. Soni Gurjar, 32, succumbed to her injuries at Jaipur's SMS Hospital early Wednesday morning, barely a day after her partner, Kailash Gurjar, 40, died from severe burns sustained in a brutal arson attack.
From Arson to Double Murder: The Sequence of Events
The horrific incident occurred on November 29 in Bandolav village, Dudu. According to the police investigation based on a dying declaration, the couple was cornered inside a makeshift shed in a field. The assailants doused them with petrol and set them on fire. Alerted by their screams, villagers rushed to the spot and managed to extinguish the flames, but not before both victims had sustained catastrophic burn injuries.
Kailash Gurjar suffered burns exceeding 50% of his body, while Soni Gurjar sustained over 70% burns. In a desperate attempt to find relief, Kailash tried to reach a nearby water tank but collapsed. The couple was first taken to a community health centre and later referred to SMS Hospital in Jaipur due to the critical nature of their injuries.
The Dying Declaration and Swift Arrests
Before his death on Tuesday, Kailash Gurjar was able to provide a statement to the police. In this crucial dying declaration, he identified the people who attacked them. Acting on this information, police from the Mokhampura police station swiftly arrested the two main suspects: Ganesh and Birdi Chand. Both are reported to be relatives of Soni Gurjar.
A case was registered based on the statements recorded at the hospital. With Soni's death on Wednesday, the charges have now been escalated. Fresh charges of murder will be applied in connection with both deaths, transforming the case entirely.
Underlying Motive and Ongoing Probe
Preliminary police findings point to a long-standing family dispute as the motive. It is reported that the victims were in a relationship that faced opposition from both families. Kailash was married, and Soni was a widow for five years and had children. Tension over their relationship had persisted for years, allegedly culminating in the fatal attack.
Following the post-mortem, Soni Gurjar's body has been handed over to her family. The police investigation is ongoing as they delve deeper into the circumstances and gather further evidence. This tragic case highlights the severe consequences of entrenched social conflicts and honour-based violence in parts of the country.
