A dispute allegedly linked to a windmill business escalated into a shocking incident of public firing in Rajkot district, sending waves of panic through a local village. The event, which unfolded on the evening of January 6 in Ori village, Vinchhiya taluka, led to the immediate arrest of five individuals and the registration of two separate police complaints.
Patrol Interception Uncovers Trouble
The chain of events began when a police patrol team from Vinchhiya police station, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Firoz Baloch, noticed three SUVs moving at high speed towards Samdhiyala in a suspicious manner. The officers promptly intercepted and searched the vehicles.
Inside, they found four individuals: Laghu Dhadhal, Pratap Khachar, Dhruvraj Dhadhal, and Jayvant alias Jayu Dhadhal. A search of their vehicles yielded two axes and a live cartridge. This discovery prompted a detailed investigation, leading to the filing of a formal police complaint by ASI Baloch.
The Alleged Sequence of Violence
During questioning, Laghu Dhadhal informed the police about a longstanding rivalry with Kuldeep Khachar from Matara village. He alleged that around 6:30 PM on January 6, while he and his associates were en route to Ori, they were attacked by Kuldeep Khachar along with Devendra alias Dendu Boricha and Lalo Govaliya.
According to Laghu's account, Kuldeep opened fire first using his weapon. In retaliation, Laghu claimed he fired back using his licensed firearm, and his associate, Pratap, discharged a country-made pistol. Following this exchange of gunfire, Kuldeep and his group allegedly fled the scene in their vehicles.
A Second Complaint and Police Action
A parallel version of events was presented in a separate complaint filed by 31-year-old Pratap. He stated that he was returning from the DLR office in Rajkot after handling windmill measurement work for Kailash Company when he received a call from his father-in-law, Laghu.
Pratap was informed that Kuldeep had come to their home, brandishing a pistol and shouting abuses. Pratap alleged that when he and family members reached the outskirts of Ori, Kuldeep fired two rounds at them. He claimed that another round was fired at them while they were pursuing the accused's vehicle.
Based on the complaints, the Vinchhiya police have registered offences under relevant sections of the BNS and the Arms Act against nine named individuals. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the case.
Jasdan division Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Navin Chakravarti provided an update on the investigation. He confirmed that the firearms used in the incident have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis. Furthermore, the police have formed multiple teams to track down and apprehend the remaining four accused who are currently at large.
The incident, involving around four rounds of gunfire, has understandably created a sense of fear and unrest in the Ori village area. The police investigation is ongoing to piece together the complete sequence of events and establish the precise motive behind the violent clash.
