Auto driver killed over molestation of woman

Surat: A 35-year-old auto-rickshaw driver was allegedly bludgeoned to death in the Althan police station area on Sunday evening following a dispute triggered by an alleged molestation incident.

The incident took place near CB Patel Cricket Ground on the road leading to Mangalam Heights building.

According to police, the victim, identified as Rahul Rajput (35), had been ferrying a domestic worker residing in Harinagar, Udhna, to various residential societies in the Althan area for nearly one and a half years.

In recent months, Rajput allegedly started harassing and molesting her. Following repeated incidents, she stopped using his services. Police said Rajput also allegedly threatened her after she refused to travel with him.

On Sunday around 6:30 pm, after finishing her work at Rajhans Symphony society, she reportedly encountered Rajput again, who was waiting nearby. When she ignored him, he allegedly molested her and forced her to accompany him.

Distressed, the woman immediately called her husband, Rajivkumar Thakur, who works at a textile unit in Udhna. He rushed to the spot, where a confrontation broke out between him and Rajput.

During the altercation, Thakur allegedly struck Rajput on the head with stones multiple times, causing fatal injuries.

The Althan police registered a case and arrested the accused husband. Police inspector J H Jambhre and his team are further investigating the incident.