Police suspect unidentified miscreants attempted to torch murder accused’s house in Sanathal, vehicles set ablaze

Tension prevailed in Sanathal village of Ahmedabad rural after unidentified persons allegedly attempted to set fire to the house of an accused involved in a recent murder case, police said on Saturday.

The incident took place late on Friday night when unknown persons allegedly targeted the residence of one of the accused arrested in connection with the sensational murder reported earlier this month. However, the accused’s house itself did not catch fire.

Police suspect that the blaze instead engulfed a neighbouring abandoned house, which had reportedly been locked and in a dilapidated condition for nearly 25 years. During the incident, two four-wheelers and an autorickshaw parked outside the accused’s residence were also gutted in the fire.

Authorities suspect that unidentified assailants may have attempted to torch the accused’s property as an act of retaliation. No injuries were reported in the incident.

A police team and forensic experts reached the spot soon after the fire was reported and initiated an investigation to ascertain the exact sequence of events. Officials said samples and evidence from the spot have been sent for forensic examination and police are awaiting the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report to determine whether the blaze was deliberately set or occurred due to some other reason.

Security has also been tightened in the area to prevent any further escalation.

The development comes days after Changodar Police Station registered a murder case in connection with the killing of Devendrasinh alias Jigo Chauhan of Sanathal village.

The victim was allegedly attacked following a dispute over vehicle parking during a wedding function in Santej on May 10. Police had stated that several members of a family allegedly assaulted the victim with sharp weapons after calling him to their residence for a settlement meeting.

Ahmedabad Rural Police had earlier arrested the accused within hours of the murder and initiated legal proceedings under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Investigators are now probing whether the latest suspected arson attempt was linked to the earlier murder case or stemmed from some other cause.