Two brothers allegedly assaulted and stabbed a 21-year-old man and knifed his father to death in Rajkot after the man objected to their throwing a lighted firecracker at him on Diwali night, police said. The father, Ajit Sindhav, died in hospital, while his son Krunal Ajit Sindhav, a school van driver, suffered serious injuries and is fighting for his life in a private hospital in Rajkot.
The first argument at Bapa Sitaram Chowk
According to the first information report, the first altercation happened between 10.30 pm and 11 pm on 8 November, when Krunal was returning home on his motorcycle after buying medicines. At Bapa Sitaram Chowk, close to his home in Marutinandan Society on Mavdi main road, the accused, Indrajeetsinh Jadeja and Yashrajsinh Jadeja, sons of Mahendrasinh Jadeja, were bursting firecrackers on the road with a group of people. Indrajeetsinh allegedly threw a lighted firecracker at Krunal, forcing him to stop his bike and confront the accused about their behaviour. A heated argument followed, and Krunal's parents and some relatives came out onto the road. The commotion continued for a while, but everyone ultimately went back into their homes.
The brothers return at 2.30 am
A few hours later, about 2.30 am on 9 November, the Jadeja brothers went up to Krunal's house and began pelting it with stones, the complaint states. They shouted obscenities and death threats. The noise provoked Krunal's father, Ajit Sindhav, to go out of the house, pick up a piece of wood lying near the gate, and confront the brothers. Krunal himself followed his father outside. Yashrajsinh allegedly snatched the log from Ajit Sindhav's hand and hit him over the head with it. Indrajeetsinh then pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed both the father and the son in the abdomen, leading to massive blood loss. Other residents and family members intervened and saved them from further assault, according to the complaint.
Father dies in hospital, son critical
Both Krunal and Ajit were taken to Madhuram Hospital, where Ajit died during treatment. B J Chaudhari, Assistant Commissioner of Police (South), Rajkot City Police, told The Indian Express that the murder took place at Marutinandan Society on Mavdi main road, and that Ajit Sindhav died of seven to eight stab wounds while his son was badly injured and is under treatment. The complaint was filed by Krunal at Malaviyanagar police station. The 21-year-old, who drives a school van, is being treated in a private hospital in Rajkot.
Both brothers booked and arrested
The Jadeja brothers have been booked for murder, attempt to murder, obscenity and aggravated criminal intimidation, among other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and the Gujarat Police Act. They were placed under arrest on Monday, 9 November, in the afternoon, police said. The case is being investigated by Malaviyanagar police. The allegations in the complaint have not yet been tested in court.
