A brutal daylight killing in Gujarat’s Jamnagar has sent shockwaves through the city after a man was fatally stabbed in a crowded market, allegedly by the estranged husband of the woman he was living with. The attack, which unfolded in full public view on Wednesday, is believed to stem from a long and bitter marital dispute involving the accused, his pregnant wife and her live-in partner.
According to police, the complainant, Sonalben, had separated from her husband Dilip following repeated assaults, intimidation and accusations regarding the paternity of her pregnancy. Unable to endure the abuse, she left him and began living with Jitendra Chavda, who was killed in the attack. She had also initiated divorce proceedings, which reportedly deepened tensions between the couple.
On the day of the incident, Sonalben and Jitendra were travelling together when Dilip intercepted them in a busy marketplace. An argument broke out, during which Dilip allegedly drew a knife and stabbed Jitendra four to five times. Witnesses said the attack was swift and violent. A second man, whose identity is yet to be confirmed, had accompanied Dilip and, according to Sonalben, also assaulted Jitendra.
Attempts by bystanders to rush the victim to the hospital failed, and Jitendra succumbed to his injuries before medical help arrived. Police sent his body to Jamnagar’s GG Hospital for postmortem examination and have formed multiple teams to track down the absconding accused.
Authorities say the killing appears to be a direct fallout of the ongoing marital conflict and growing hostility between the estranged husband and the couple, who had begun living together. Police investigations are underway, and efforts to locate both Dilip and the unidentified accomplice continue.
