AHMEDABAD: In a chilling tale of revenge, a 30-year-old man mowed down his father’s murderer in Ahmedabad’s Bodakdev locality after waiting 22 years for an opportune moment. The accused, who was eight years old when his father was crushed to death in a similar manner, grew up hearing stories about the killers, and nursed a deep grudge and an intense desire to avenge the murder.
On Tuesday afternoon, Nakhat Singh Bhati (50), who was employed as a security guard at a residential colony in Thaltej area of Ahmedabad, was riding his bicycle when he was run over by a pickup truck.
It was initially believed to be a fatal accident. The accused, Gopal Singh Bhati, tried to flee after running over Nakhat, but was nabbed by cops just a short distance away, and booked for causing death by negligent driving.
However, investigation revealed it to be a well-planned murder. Inspector S A Gohil of N division traffic said in 2002, Gopal’s father, Hari Singh Bhati, was crushed to death by a truck in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. Nakhat and his four brothers were convicted of Hari’s murder and sentenced to imprisonment for seven years. “Gopal had been waiting to exact a cruel revenge since then,” Gohil said.
Police said Gopal had bought the pickup truck for Rs 8 lakh from a village in Banaskantha only last week. He made a down payment of Rs 1.25 lakh and loaned the remaining amount from a bank.
“Gopal’s mobile phone records showed he had frequented Nakhat’s place last week, which suggested he had done a recce before avenging his father’s murder,” the inspector added.
Gohil said both Nakhat and Gopal were from Jaisalmer and their families, and even the villages they belonged to, had a long history of enmity. Nakhat was from Badoda village and Gopal from Ajasar village. “People from those two villages do not talk to each other. Several attempts have apparently been made to arrive at a compromise, but to no avail,” Gohil said.
A case of murder would be registered against Gopal, he added.