Two youths arrested for killing 60-year-old man in road rage after minor accident in Ahmedabad

A late-night road rage incident following a minor traffic collision at a busy crossroads in Gota, Ahmedabad claimed the life of a 60-year-old man, with the Sola High Court police arresting two youths within hours of the crime, officials said on Saturday.

The deceased has been identified as Alpesh Balkrishna Mehta (60), a resident of Chandlodiya. The complaint was filed by his son, Harit Mehta (32), a resident of Shela, who alleged that his father was brutally assaulted after a minor accident involving a motorcycle.

According to the FIR registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the incident occurred around 10.30 pm on January 29 at the Prasang Party Plot crossroads in Gota. Alpesh Mehta was driving his Tata Tiago car on a public road when it collided with a motorcycle, resulting in a minor incident.

Police said the motorcycle rider, Amit Vaghela (20), and his pillion rider, Keval Vaghela (20), both residents of Ghatlodia, allegedly lost their temper following the accident. The two are accused of smashing the driver-side window of the car, hurling abuses and then assaulting Mehta with punches to his face, head and chest.

The victim sustained severe injuries and collapsed at the spot. He was rushed for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Both accused were arrested on January 30 around 3.30 pm. Investigators revealed that Amit Vaghela has been working for the past two months as a contractual dead animal disposal worker with the Amdavad Municipal Corporation’s Sola ward, while Keval Vaghela joined the same contractual work around a fortnight ago.

A case has been registered against the accused under BNS sections relating to culpable homicide, voluntarily causing grievous hurt, criminal intimidation and damage to property. Police said further investigation is underway, including the examination of CCTV footage from the area and the recording of witness statements, to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the fatal assault.

The incident has once again brought the spotlight to rising cases of road rage in the city, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and deterrent action.