Rajkot: Police have cracked the sensational murder of a local beauty parlour operator at Bapa Sitaram Park on Kalawad Road, arresting two brothers hailing from Agra who lived in her immediate neighbourhood.The victim, identified as Geeta Vajani, was found dead inside her residence on Thursday with fatal sharp-weapon wounds to her neck.Rajkot City Crime Branch police inspector M L Damor said that investigators initially suspected the victim’s son. However, sustained questioning and technical analysis conclusively ruled out his involvement.Suspicion subsequently shifted to the Prajapati brothers after CCTV footage from the vicinity revealed suspicious movements. Following the interrogation of the suspects and individuals staying with them, the two brothers—Ramnaresh Jatav (24) and Shanikumar Prajapati (19)—confessed to the murder.ACP (crime) Bharat Basia revealed that the duo had moved into a neighbouring house only recently. On Sept 14, the accused spotted Vaja returning home adorned with jewellery. Facing a debt of approximately Rs 2 lakh in his hometown, Ramnaresh allegedly hatched a plan to rob her residence and roped in his brother.Between 2 am and 2:30 am on Sept 16, the duo crossed over from their terrace to the victim’s terrace. Finding the inner terrace door open, they descended the staircase and entered the living quarters.When Vaja woke up and raised an alarm, they demanded money. As she put up resistance, the brothers slit her neck with a knife, killing her on the spot. The assailants then fled with Rs 40,000 in cash.To avoid suspicion, the suspects chose not to flee the locality. Upon returning to their terrace, they allegedly burnt their bloodstained clothes to destroy forensic evidence.Police inquiries further revealed that Ramnaresh Jatav faces a prior case registered under the Pocso Act in Uttar Pradesh, involving the alleged abduction and sexual assault of a minor.
