A 23-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by his friend and the latter's associates in Gujarat's Rajkot after the accused objected to Instagram messages exchanged with his sister, police said on Tuesday.
Three people, including the woman's brother, have been arrested in connection with the case, while proceedings have also been initiated against a minor allegedly involved in the assault.
The victim, Umang Jakhelia, was a resident of Rajkot's Rukhadia Phatak area and worked as a painter. According to a complaint lodged by his father, Ranjeet Jakhelia, the main accused, Nazir, along with another man, arrived at their home on the afternoon of July 27 and took Umang away on a scooter, telling the family they were going out for tea.
Police said Umang was instead taken to an abandoned and dilapidated location near the old railway station.
Investigators alleged that Nazir and another accused, Sujal Ramavat, assaulted Umang with sticks and metal pipes for nearly an hour. At around 5 pm, they allegedly abandoned him in a critically injured condition near his neighbourhood before fleeing the scene.
His family rushed him to Rajkot Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. According to police, the body bore multiple injuries consistent with a brutal assault.
During the investigation, police discovered that Umang had been communicating with Nazir's sister through social media.
Officers said Nazir allegedly became enraged after learning about the messages and planned the attack. Investigators also found that Umang was a close friend of Nazir's elder brother, Ghulam Hussain alias Asif Kakkal, and was a frequent visitor to their home.
Pradyumnanagar police have registered a case under relevant sections related to murder and common intention. Nazir alias Gheti, Asif Kakkal and Sujal Ramavat have been arrested.
The minor accused is being produced before the Juvenile Justice Board as per legal procedure.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine the exact sequence of events and the specific role played by each accused. The incident has raised concerns in Rajkot over violent crimes stemming from personal disputes and social media interactions.
