Daijiworld Media Network – Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Nov 15: In a chilling incident that has left Bhavnagar in shock, a 22-year-old woman who was to get married this morning was brutally murdered by her fiancé following a heated argument over food and money. The crime took place near Tekri Chowk in the Prabhudas Lake area.

The victim, Soni Rathod (22), had been living in a live-in relationship with the accused, Sajan Baraiya (26), for the past several months. Police said the couple got into a quarrel early on Friday morning, during which Sajan lost control and attacked Soni with an iron pipe, delivering repeated blows to her head and body. He then allegedly smashed her head against a wall, causing fatal injuries before fleeing the spot.

Locals who heard the commotion alerted Gangajaliya Police Station, following which a police convoy rushed to the scene. The area was cordoned off and the body was sent for post-mortem.

City DySP R R Sindhal, providing details of the incident, confirmed that wedding preparations were underway and the couple was scheduled to marry the same day. “During the argument, the accused picked up an iron pipe and struck her multiple times. After the assault, he escaped,” he said.

Police also revealed that Soni’s family had performed the last rites of a relative just a day earlier, deepening the tragedy for the bereaved household.

Teams have now been deployed across Bhavnagar and neighbouring regions to trace the absconding accused, who officers describe as agitated and potentially dangerous. A formal complaint has been registered and an intensive manhunt is underway.