Married man murdered by lover's father, relatives

Rajkot: A 25-year-old married man was murdered, allegedly by four men — all of whom were his neighbours and distant relatives — at Bhod village of Ranavav taluka, Porbandar district on Friday. They wanted revenge for the victim purportedly having an affair with the daughter of one of them.

Raju Kodiyatar was attacked inside his home with axes, sticks and metal pipes, according to the complaint filed by his sister, Bhikhu Kodiyatar, at Ranavav police station. The assailants — identified as Badha Kodiyatar, Sanga Kodiyatar, Hira Kodiyatar and Veja Kodiyatar — broke into the house and killed Raju despite trying to save himself by hiding in the storage compartment of a bed.

The four accused, who are neighbours and distant relatives of the victim, have been booked under Sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 332(a) (house trespass) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to Bhikhu's statement, Raju's wife had gone to her parents' home a few days earlier. Their mother had gone to bring her back. Raju, Bhikhu and their younger sister home when the accused stormed in around noon. Realizing they were after Raju, Bhikhu locked him in a room and latched the main door of the house from the inside. The attackers broke down the main door of the house.

They caught Raju and beat him mercilessly. When Bhikhu and her sister tried to intervene, they were assaulted and knocked down. The attackers left only after Raju fell silent. Neighbours gathered on hearing the commotion. Raju was found in a pool of blood inside the storage box. An ambulance was called, but paramedics declared him dead on the spot.

N N Talaviya, inspector of Ranavav police station, told TOI, "Raju had an affair with the daughter of one of the accused men. They had eloped 20 days ago but returned eight or nine days back after both families agreed to settle the matter. It appears the accused wanted revenge."

Police have detained the accused for questioning and are continuing their investigation.