Birthday celebration turns fatal: youth stabbed to death near Gandhinagar canal, girlfriend battles for life

A night of birthday celebrations ended in a brutal killing near the Ambapur canal in Gandhinagar, when a 24-year-old man was fatally stabbed and his girlfriend left seriously injured. Police suspect that the crime was committed during a robbery and have launched a large-scale manhunt.

What exactly happened

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police Piyush Vanda, the Gandhinagar police control room received an emergency call around 2.30 am on Saturday about an assault near the Ambapur canal road, a relatively secluded stretch close to Sardarnagar.

When officers reached the spot, they found the body of Vaibhav, a resident of Ahmedabad, lying on the roadside with deep stab wounds inflicted by a sharp-edged weapon. His companion, Aastha, who hails from the Motera area, was found nearby in a semi-conscious state with multiple injuries. She was rushed to a hospital in Ahmedabad, where doctors performed emergency surgery.

Police said Vaibhav’s car was discovered a short distance away on the canal bridge, suggesting that the assailant either abandoned it after an attempted getaway or fled the scene after the attack.

Prima facie a robbery-cum-murder

DySP Vanda said that investigators are treating the crime as a case of robbery-cum-murder. “Our preliminary assessment indicates that robbery was the motive. There is no evidence at this stage of sexual assault. The injured woman is not yet in a condition to give a statement. Her version of events will be vital once she regains full consciousness,” he said.

The officer added that eight dedicated police teams have been formed to track down the attacker. Early clues point to the involvement of a single assailant, but all possibilities remain open as the investigation proceeds.

Forensic examination and CCTV trail

A forensic science team joined senior officers at the crime scene through the night, collecting biological samples and other evidence. Police have begun combing through CCTV footage from the surrounding area to reconstruct the attacker’s movements before and after the incident.

“The sequence of events, including what brought the couple to the canal road late at night, is under scrutiny. We will have a clearer picture after the woman gives her statement,” DySP Vanda said.

Community concerns and past incidents

Local residents expressed shock over the killing, pointing out that the Ambapur canal stretch has witnessed incidents of violent robbery in the past. They have urged the authorities to increase night patrols and install better lighting and surveillance in the area.

Police officials said that Vaibhav and Aastha had reportedly gone to the canal road late at night after a birthday celebration. Investigators are trying to piece together their movements and identify whether they were followed or targeted.