A 30-year-old man in Ahmedabad’s Bodakdev locality crushed to death his father’s murderer after waiting 22 years for the right opportunity. The accused, Gopal Singh Bhati, was just eight years old when his father, Hari Singh Bhati, was killed in a similar manner. Gopal grew up hearing stories about the incident and harboured a deep grudge, driven by a strong desire to avenge his father’s death.
On Tuesday afternoon, the victim, 50-year-old Nakhat Singh Bhati, who worked as a security guard in a residential colony in Ahmedabad’s Thaltej area, was riding his bicycle when he was hit by a pickup truck. Initially believed to be a fatal accident, further investigation revealed it to be a calculated act of revenge.
Gopal tried to flee the scene after running over Nakhat but was apprehended by police shortly afterwards. He was initially charged with causing death by negligent driving, but the investigation soon uncovered the incident as an act of deliberate vengeance.
Inspector S A Gohil of the N Division Traffic Department explained that in 2002, Gopal’s father had been crushed to death by a truck in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Nakhat and his four brothers had been convicted of Hari Singh Bhati’s murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. “Since then, Gopal had been waiting to exact his revenge,” Gohil said.
Police revealed that Gopal had purchased the pickup truck for Rs 8 lakh just last week, making a down payment of Rs 1.25 lakh and securing the rest through a bank loan. Mobile phone records indicated that Gopal had visited Nakhat’s residence several times in the previous week, suggesting that he had carefully planned the murder.
Inspector Gohil further disclosed that both families were from Jaisalmer, with Nakhat’s family from Badoda village and Gopal’s from Ajasar village. The two villages have a long history of enmity, with several failed attempts at reconciliation over the years.
“A murder case would be filed against Gopal”, said Gohil.
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