Many murders……and then police cases, followed by plenty of news stories ….. while this has become routine, the story presented below is different one, almost like some unpenned fiction work.

21 years back in small Navagam village, 21-km from Saurashtra’s Gondal town in Rajkot district, there were two pan shops(a small set up selling tobacco products etc). While one was owned by Raghavbhai Solanki, the other was owned by Nathabhai Parmar. Both were from same cast called ‘Khant’ in Saurashtra. There was a tough business rivalry between two. Raghavbhai Solanki used to lower down the prices of products in his shops at regular interval to harm rival Nathabhai Parmar’s business. At one point of time, the rivalry triggered verbal fight between two, which further resulted into a murder of Nathabhai. Raghavbhai was accused of Nathabhai’s murder. Victim Nathabhai’s son Ragha Parmar was present on the spot with his father when he was murdered. While trying to rescue his father Nathabhai, Ragha Parmar also faced injury.

In Saurashtra, it is said that the a brave person would give life or take life for Vat(dignity), Vachan(promise) and Ver(revenge). Ragha Parmar took a pledge in front of his father’s dead body that he would take revenge of his father’s murder and until that he would remain barefoot and would settle outside his village. This pledge made him settle down in his farm land outside the village.

Raghavbhai started living life with extra caution from that day, knowing well that Ragha Parmar would not leave him and certainly would take revenge of his father’s murder. Raghavbhai used to leave his house only with suitable companion. For 21 years of time, Raghavbhai never gave Ragha Parmar a single opportunity.

However he could not escape from death forever. On Dhuleti day this month, Raghavbhai was alone in his farm at around 8.00 am in morning. Desperate to take revange of his father’s murder, Ragha Parmar spotted him alone and grabbed an opportunity to kill him. Seeomg Ragha Parmar, Raghavbhai started running towards village. Ragha Parmar ran after Raghavbhai in open field. Raghavbhai tried to flee employing his entire energy. But his chappal(footwear) obstructed him while running and he felled down. Ragha Parmar, his wife Mukta, and brother Jitendra immediately attacked Raghavbhai killing him by using a sharp weapon. As per the pledge that he had taken, Ragha Parmar tasted blood of bleeding Raghabhai’s body and also tried to cut his head. Ragha Parmar, Mukta and Jitendra then left the body there to flee from the place.

The village people told police that none other but only Ragha Natha Parmar could be a culprit. Police arrested all three victims and demanded remand to interrogate them in court. However court refused to allow remand. Ragha Parmar, his wife and his brother are now in jail.