Botad firing: A high-profile case of honour killing?

The murder of realtor and petrol pump owner, Bharatsinh Vala in cold blood on Tuesday night could be murkier than it appears. Vala was shot dead at his office in Botad town of Bhavnagar district. Sources suggest that this could well be a case of honour killing.

Officials said that based on the CCTV footage, one of the assailants was identified as Yuvrajsinh Parmar, brother-in-law of Vala’s younger brother. Recently out on parole for the murder of Vala’s father, Yuvrajsinh allegedly shot Vala and the latter’s friend Ranchhod Kevadiya (Patel) with the help of another accomplice. 

Sources in the know said that the families had been quarreling over the inter-caste marriage of Bharatsinh’s brother Ranjitsinh with Yuvrajsinh’s sister, indicating that this was indeed a high-profile honour killing. The girl had married Ranjitsinh against her family’s wishes. While the Valas belong to the Kathi Darbar community, the Parmar family is Rajput.

It should be noted that the Valas and Parmars were business associates and had near familial ties, until the time their children decided to tie the knot. That was when Yuvrajsinh had sworn revenge on the Vala family, they added.

Bharatsinh’s father Bahadursinh was the first one to bear the brunt of the inter-caste divide, said sources. In 2001, a miffed Yuvrajsinh had murdered him and was sentenced to jail for the same.

On January 7 last year, he was granted parole from jail following his wife’s death.

However, Yuvrajsinh used the opportunity to rouse the decade-old grudge and targeted Bharatsinh, sources said. On Tuesday, the latter was in his office at Amardeep petrol pump in the town. Local businessman Ranchhod Patel had gone there to invite him for his son’s wedding.

CCTV footage shows Parmar and an unidentified accomplice opening fire at Bharatsinh around 8 pm.

As many as 18 bullets were recovered from the spot, police said. Of these, 14 rounds were fired, a majority of them at Bharatsinh, said sources in Bhavnagar local crime branch (LCB), which is investigating the case. While Bharatsinh died on the spot, Kevadiya who was also caught in the middle of the firing, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital shortly thereafter.

Bhavnagar police, however, denied that this was an honour killing. They maintained that the two business partners had had arguments over their dealings, which had soured their relations.

Cops are now awaiting the post-mortem report of the bodies. They are also investigating the presence of a third accomplice, who may have been the getaway driver

Sources further said that the lives of Bharatsinh’s elder brother Ajitsinh as well as Ranjitsinh may be in danger till Yuvrajsinh is not apprehended. As of now, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Twist in the tale
Officials said that based on the CCTV footage, one of the assailants was identified as Yuvrajsinh Parmar, brother-in-law of Bharatsinh Vala’s younger brother.

Sources in the know said that the families had been quarreling over the inter-caste marriage of Bharatsinh’s brother Ranjitsinh with Yuvrajsinh’s sister, indicating that this was indeed a high-profile honour killing.

While the Valas belong to the Kathi Darbar community, the Parmar family is Rajput.

As many as 18 bullets were recovered from the spot, police said. Of these, 14 rounds were fired, a majority of them at Bharatsinh, said sources in Bhavnagar local crime branch (LCB)

Police are also investigating the presence of a third accomplice, who may have been the getaway driver.