Couple kills woman’s lover, dumps body in forest stretch

Rajkot: A Rajkot couple was arrested for allegedly murdering the woman’s lover and dumping his body in a forest stretch near Naranka village in Kotda Sangani taluka, police said on Sunday.

The crime came to light on Saturday when a farmer spotted the body of an unidentified man lying beside the road in the forest area. The victim’s hands and feet were tied with rope, and he had deep injuries on the neck caused by a sharp weapon.

Rajkot Rural police and the Local Crime Branch (LCB) launched an investigation. Rajkot superintendent of police (rural) Vijay Singh Gurjar said CCTV footage and technical surveillance helped investigators trace a suspicious white car seen near the crime spot.

Police identified the vehicle owner as 46-year-old Surendra Prasad, a native of Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh, currently residing in Gundasara village near Ribda railway station. During interrogation, Surendra and his wife Reeta allegedly confessed to the crime, police said.

According to investigators, the victim, identified as 45-year-old rickshaw driver Vijaydas Dudhrejiya, had allegedly been in a relationship with Reeta for nearly two years. Police said Surendra was aware of the affair and frequently objected to it, even shifting residence to distance his wife from the victim. However, Vijaydas allegedly continued to contact her, leading to escalating tensions.

The situation allegedly turned deadly on the night of May 8 when Surendra found Reeta speaking to Vijaydas on the phone. After a heated argument, the couple allegedly conspired to eliminate him. Reeta then allegedly called Vijaydas, telling him that her husband was away and asked him to visit their house around 2.30 am.

When Vijaydas arrived , Surendra allegedly attacked him with a steel pipe. Police said the couple then tied his hands and feet, placed him in the trunk of their car and drove towards the Naranka forest area.

Investigators alleged that Vijaydas was later killed with an axe blow to the neck before his body was dumped beside the road.

LCB police inspector J P Raw said police recovered the steel pipe, axe and the car allegedly used in the crime. The accused couple has been handed over to Kotda Sangani police for further investigation.

Police said Vijaydas was a resident of Gundasara village and had been living separately from his wife for several years.