During Navratri, people perform aarti of goddess Durga, praying for the well being of all and dance the Garba. However, in Porbandar, a murder took place at the Garba grounds. According to information, the Garba organisers beat up a girl’s father so badly that it resulted in his death. The police have initiated an investigation into the murder.
According to information, the Garba programme was organised behind the Rokadiya Hanuman Temple in Krishna Park in Porbandar. A woman by the name of Meliben Odhavara complained that her 11-year-old daughter Kripali Sukuchi had participated in the Garba held in the Chowk area. Around 12 night, she went to bring her home. She had won an award for the Garba performance but the organisers decided to give her a lower reward. When Kripali’s mother expressed dissatisfaction with the reward, the organisers told her that she would get only what she was promised. They advised her to take it or leave it; otherwise, she could leave the place. Women from the Garba committee also came there and started arguing. Garba organiser Ramdev Bokhiriya, however, didn’t comply.
Later, Meliben took her daughter home. Then, around 2 am, her husband Sarman Odhavara was sitting outside with Meliben in front of their house. At that time, several people arrived on 3-4 bikes, including Raju Keshavala, and started attacking Sarman with sticks and threats. Meliben saw them hitting her husband with sticks on his legs. Terrified, she ran inside the house. Later, the men took Sarman on a bike to the Garba Chowk area and beat him there as well.
Afterwards, Meliben went to the spot with the police, and found Sarman Odhavara lying there in critical condition. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital, where doctors said he had died due to his injuries. The police have registered a case of murder against 8 people involved in the incident.
