A 40-year-old man was brutally hacked to death at Khakhadabela village in Paddhari taluka of Rajkot district on Tuesday night. The victim was allegedly attacked by two of the three men he had accused of raping his minor daughter in 2024.
Police Register Murder Case
Paddhari police have registered a case of murder against Yashpalsinh Jadeja, Mahendrasinh Jadeja, and unidentified persons. According to Rajkot Rural in-charge superintendent of police Simran Bhardwaj, the victim was traveling from Rajkot city to Khakhadabela village when the accused intercepted his vehicle.
Attack Details
Police said the assailants rammed their vehicle into the victim's car and then attacked him with bladed weapons before fleeing the scene. After the killing, teams from Paddhari police station and the local crime branch launched a search for the accused. The victim's body was sent for a postmortem, and forensic teams collected evidence from the spot.
Link to 2024 Rape Case
Sources in the police indicated that the murder may be linked to a rape case registered in 2024. The deceased had earlier filed a complaint at Paddhari police station against Mahendrasinh Jadeja, Yashpalsinh Jadeja, and Ajaysinh Jadeja under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act for raping his minor daughter. Police had arrested Ajaysinh Jadeja, but Mahendrasinh and Yashpalsinh remained absconding.
Pressure to Withdraw Case
Investigators suspect that the accused were pressuring the complainant to withdraw or settle the case and plotted the murder when he refused. Police sources added that after the alleged rape in 2024, the girl had attempted suicide. Her father then approached police and lodged the FIR.
Questions Over Police Action
Officials have not issued a formal statement confirming the motive, but investigators are examining links between the killing and the pending Pocso case. The incident raises questions about the failure to arrest the accused persons in the earlier case despite the FIR having been registered in April 2024. Local sources said timely action against the accused could have prevented the murder.
Police said further investigation is underway. Teams are working to apprehend the absconding accused and uncover the full circumstances surrounding the murder.
