Rajkot: A case of suspected honour killing has come to light in Valukad village of Ghogha taluka in Bhavnagar district, where a 29-year-old man was murdered by stabbing him multiple times in full public view on Saturday night, allegedly over his alleged marriage to a woman from the same village.The victim, Ravi alias Lalo Kalotra, was attacked around 9.30pm near a bus station by three assailants — Haresh alias Hari Aal, Kishor alias Kishan Chauhan, and an unidentified accomplice. The entire incident was reportedly captured on CCTV, and a purported video of the killing has since gone viral on social media.According to a complaint filed by the mother of the deceased, 62-year-old Dhani Kalotra, at Vartej police station, the murder was orchestrated by father of the woman, Munna Balya, who was allegedly enraged over his daughter’s court marriage to Ravi. Both, Ravi and the woman belong to the same community. Ravi, who worked as a driver, had developed a relationship with the woman while working in Ahmedabad about four years ago. Despite the family’s attempts to formalize the relationship, the woman’s father reportedly refused to accept the match. In 2023, the couple went ahead with a court marriage in Ahmedabad. However, the woman continued to live with her parents, while Ravi frequently travelled between Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar, before returning to Valukad village. Police said that on the night of the incident (March 28), Ravi had gone to the Valukad bus station when he was ambushed by the accused, one of whom had his face covered. The attack took place in front of Ravi’s uncle, Bhupat Kalotra. Police said that Ravi sustained multiple stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. Ravi was rushed to Sir T Hospital in Bhavnagar with two knives lodged in his abdomen. The doctors there declared him dead on arrival.Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Munna Balya and three others under relevant sections of the BNS. Investigators are probing the case from an honour killing angle, suspecting that opposition to the inter-family relationship and alleged marriage may have led to the fatal attack.Authorities have launched a manhunt to nab the accused.
