Vadodara: Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi on Tuesday defended the police encounter of the prime accused in the Vasad child rape-murder case, stating it is the duty of state law enforcement to maintain complete control over “naradhams” (monsters) who attack police officers.“A person accused of raping and murdering a four-and-a-half-year-old girl—and whose past is linked to similar heinous crimes—attacked police personnel with a knife. When police are forced to open fire in self-defence against such a criminal, it is their duty to keep them completely under control,” Sanghavi said after visiting two injured policemen at Shree Krishna Hospital in Karamsad.Accompanied by DGP G S Malik, Sanghavi met constables Rajveersinh Chauhan and Mahipalsinh Rathod, who were injured in the attack on Sunday night. Sanghavi praised the officers for their bravery, while DGP Malik confirmed both are out of danger and recovering well.The Vasad child rape-murder case accused, 25-year-old Suresh Parmar, was shot dead late Sunday night after allegedly attacking an Anand Local Crime Branch escort team while being taken for an investigation.According to police, Parmar complained of vomiting, prompting the escort vehicle to stop between the Asodar outpost and the Kanthariya railway crossing. As he was brought out of the vehicle, Parmar pulled out a concealed knife, attacked the two constables, and attempted to assault PSI I J Rana.Police stated that PSI Rana fired a warning shot and repeatedly ordered Parmar to surrender, opening fire in self-defence when Parmar continued his assault. Parmar later succumbed to his injuries at Shree Krishna Hospital, and Anklav police have since registered an attempt-to-murder case regarding the attack on the escort team.The encounter occurred less than 24 hours after Parmar was arrested for allegedly abducting, raping, and killing a four-and-a-half-year-old girl from the Vasad railway station platform. CCTV footage showing Parmar carrying the child away led to his rapid arrest by the Borsad Rural Police.Anand superintendent of police Gaurav Jasani stated that forensic and investigative details confirmed the child was raped before being murdered, and her body was subsequently placed on the railway tracks. Police revealed Parmar was tied to two previous rape-murder investigations in Anand district – one resulting in an acquittal in 2025, and another earlier this year where fresh circumstantial evidence directly linked him to the crime.Meanwhile, Parmar’s body was released to his father following a postmortem examination. The cremation was held under police security at Radhupura, a hamlet on the outskirts of Bandhani village in Anand district, after some villagers reportedly opposed bringing the body into the village. Only Parmar’s father and a few relatives attended the last rites.
