Rajkot, March 17 Police have arrested three individuals for allegedly abducting and killing a 32-year-old Dalit man in Rajkot district, Gujarat, officials said on Tuesday.
The three accused, Ravi Jograna, Sagar Jograna, and Gopal Jograna, are alleged to have been involved in the abduction and murder of Bhavesh Vanvi, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Chintan Patel of the SC/ST Cell.
According to the FIR, Hamir Jograna, the main accused in the case who is currently at large, and at least four other individuals abducted Vanvi on the night of March 15, allegedly after he had filed an application with the Rajkot Municipal Corporation against Hamir's sugarcane pressing business.
The accused, armed with pipes, sharp-edged weapons, and an axe, intercepted Vanvi while he was travelling on a motorcycle near Dwarkesh Park in Rajkot. They allegedly assaulted him with the intent to cause death, inflicting grievous injuries to his head, hands, and other parts of his body, the FIR stated.
Vanvi succumbed to his injuries on Monday, the police said.
Hamir was also in conflict with Vanvi as the latter was in contact with the woman the accused was involved with.
According to preliminary investigations, Hamir had previously filed an application with the police alleging that the deceased and the woman were involved in honey-trapping and extortion.
Following Vanvi's death, members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) community refused to accept his body until the arrests were made. A commotion broke out outside the hospital, prompting the police to intervene on Monday night, officials said.
ACP Patel said that the deceased had a criminal history, including involvement in cases of rioting, assault, and offenses under the Prohibition Act and the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA).
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the accused.