In a murder that shook the Panej village in Gujarat’s Chhotaudepur, the Bodeli police has now stated that the accused is not a tantric, as mentioned earlier, adding that he is ‘mentally unstable’.

As per the police statement, the incident took place on Monday around 8.30 am, when the accused Lala Tadvi “forcefully grabbed a four-and-a-half-year-old girl named Rita, daughter of Rajubhai Chhaktarbhai alias Kalubhai Tadvi, while she was walking outside with her mother”. 

The accused then covered the girl’s mouth, lifted her, took her inside his house, and slashed her throat with an axe.

No tantric ritual, says police

According to police, the investigating officer did not find any ritualistic objects at the crime scene that would indicate a tantric or occult practice.

“There was no evidence to suggest that the accused had any past history of performing black magic or superstitious rituals,” the police said.

Police investigation

Following this incident, the Bodeli PI visited the crime scene, carried out procedures for the post-mortem, and registered a case based on a complaint filed by Jyotiben, wife of Rajubhai Tadvi under BNS Sections 103(1), 137(2), 351(3), and GP Act Section 135 at 2:00 pm, and an investigation was initiated.

During the investigation, statements from witnesses were recorded. They revealed that the complainant attempted to stop the accused from carrying the victim away, but could not. . The accused also tried to grab the complainant’s younger son, but as she resisted and moved away, he failed to do so.

Additionally, inside the accused’s house, blood was found on the floor, walls, and temple steps, confirming that the victim had been placed on the floor and struck with an axe on her throat.

Motive behind the murder

Upon interrogation, the accused stated that Rajubhai, the complainant’s husband, had allegedly killed the accused’s sisters, and to avenge that, he had killed Rajubhai’s daughter.

However, upon investigation, both of Lala Tadvi’s sisters were found alive at their in-laws and had not suffered any harm.

The police reached the conclusion that the accused was mentally disturbed and of an aggressive nature, which had led his wife and children to leave him. He had been living alone for the past ten years.

It was also found that the accused had previous altercations with the complainant, which is believed to be a motive for his abducting and killing the complainant’s daughter.