Bhavnagar triple murder cracked: Forest officer arrested for killing wife, 2 children

A serving Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) has confessed to killing his wife and two children, who were recovered from an abandoned patch of land.

The victims, Nayanaben Khambhla (40), her daughter Pruthva (13) and son Bhavya (9) had arrived from Surat to spend their holidays in Bhavnagar, where Shailesh Khambhla was posted with the Forest Department.

On November 7, Shailesh had filed a missing-person report, stating that his wife and children had disappeared on November 5.

Through the next ten days, police teams searched for the family. Shailesh repeatedly visited the police station, but had said that he needed to go to Surat for work. His lack of panic had raised eyebrows of the investigators.

A breakthrough came when police received information about a strong stench near an abandoned plot in the Forest Colony area on Talaja Road. Three bodies were uncovered from the side, buried under earth and rubble.

The bodies were tied with stones, covered with mattresses and dumped into pre-dug pits.

Shailesh, confronted with the findings, finally broke down and confessed.

On November 1 and 2, days before the murders, Shailesh allegedly had pits dug at the isolated spot. This preparation, authorities believe, confirms that he intended to kill in advance.

According to investigators, the couple frequently fought because Shailesh wanted his family to stay in Surat with her parents, while his wife insisted on living with him in Bhavnagar. Their argument during her visit may have escalated fatally.

Police also suspect he took the help of some employees to dig or conceal the pits. Their role is now under scrutiny.

The bodies were sent to Bhavnagar Sir T Hospital for postmortem. Police have registered a case and arrested Shailesh Khambhla for triple murder. Investigators are now probing the exact motive and timeline of the incident.