Man stabs wife of 23 years to death near Veraval

Rajkot: A 40-year-old woman, Heena alias Champa Dholiya, was stabbed to death by her husband, Vinod Dholiya, at Darai village in Veraval taluka of Gir Somnath on Friday. Police said Vinod allegedly stabbed Heena more than eight times in public — at a shop belonging to her relative. According to investigators, Heena had long been subjected to physical and mental abuse by Vinod. She had earlier filed a complaint at the Women's police station and — unable to bear the harassment — moved to her parental home on April 30, 2025. She also filed a suit for maintenance in court. Police say Vinod resented these actions, which may have motivated the murder. In his FIR filed at Prabhas Patan police station, Heena's brother, 39-year-old Dinesh Chandpa, stated that his sister was at their relatives' cutlery and tailoring shop in Darai village on Friday when Vinod arrived and picked a fight with her. He allegedly stabbed her multiple times. Heena was rushed to Veraval Civil Hospital in an ambulance, but doctors there declared her dead on arrival. The FIR further states that Vinod frequently expressed doubts about Heena's fidelity, subjected her to continual physical and mental abuse and kept pressuring her to get money from her parents. Preliminary findings reveal that the couple have two sons, 21 and 19, who are living in Rajkot. Vinod, a resident of Tantivela village in Veraval taluka, fled after the crime. Gir Somnath police have launched a search for him.