Suspect in senior citizen's murder in Isanpur arrested from Himmatnagar

A case of murder in Isanpur, Ahmedabad, was unravelled with the arrest of the accused by the Crime Branch. The victim, 55-year-old Punambhai Velabhai Dantani, was found brutally murdered on his pedal cycle outside his home on March 11. After weeks of investigation, the accused, identified as Shankarlal Rupaji Kikaji Meena, was arrested from  Himmatnagar.

The case was initially reported by the victim’s son, Sanjaybhai Punambhai Dantani, a vegetable vendor residing in Nishigiri’s Chhapra in Chandola. According to his statement, the incident occurred in the early hours of March 11. Sanjaybhai and his wife had returned home around 12.30 am after selling vegetables and had provided dinner to his father, who routinely slept on his pedal cycle outside the house. The next morning, at approximately 7 am, a neighbour informed him that his father had been attacked.

Upon reaching the scene, Sanjaybhai discovered his father lying lifeless on his pedal cycle, covered with a rug. His body bore deep wounds, with intestines protruding from his abdomen and a severe head injury. Law enforcement officials promptly arrived at the scene and transported the victim’s body to VS Hospital for a post-mortem examination. A case was registered at Isanpur police station under relevant sections of the IPC, and an investigation was launched.

The Crime Branch took over the case and reviewed CCTV footage, conducted technical surveillance, and interrogated potential witnesses. Investigations revealed that a suspect residing in the Chandola area had been missing since the incident. The suspect, later identified as Shankarlal Rupaji Kikaji Meena, was traced to his native Rajasthan but was eventually located in the Vidyanagari area of Himmatnagar.

A Crime Branch team detained Meena and brought him to Ahmedabad for questioning, where he reportedly confessed to the crime. Following legal procedures, he was handed over to the Isanpur police station for further investigation.

During the investigation, the Crime Branch revealed that Meena suspected his wife of having an affair with Punambhai. In a fit of rage, he devised a plan to kill him. On the day of the incident, Meena wrapped himself in a plastic bag and went to where Punambhai was sleeping. He took a pavement block, struck him on the head, and then stabbed him multiple times with a trident-style knife before fleeing the scene.

Officials recovered the weapon and the plastic bags used in the crime, while he had burned the clothes he wore during the incident to destroy evidence.