Ahmedabad: A 21-year-old restaurateur and BJP functionary from Surat, Jay Dalal, was allegedly stabbed to death in a public place following a dispute with a group of friends late on Sunday night, police said.

Dalal served as the vice-president of the BJP youth wing in Surat’s Dindoli ward. His mother, Jayshree Dalal, who is associated with the party’s Mahila Morcha, filed a complaint at Udhna police station in connection with the incident.

The FIR names three accused — Milan Koli, Pankaj Patil, and Kishan Parmar — all residents of Surat’s Dindoli area. They have been booked for murder under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to investigators, the incident took place on Road No. 6 in the Udhna area, where Dalal had gathered with five to six youths. During the meeting, an argument allegedly broke out between Dalal and the three accused. The exact cause of the dispute remains under investigation.

Police said the accused allegedly pulled out knives and attacked Dalal multiple times before fleeing the scene. After he collapsed, two others present at the spot rushed him to Apple Hospital near Udhna Darwaja, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

Hospital authorities later informed police about the incident, while Dalal’s family was alerted by two friends who were present at the scene at around 12:30 am on Monday.

Udhna Police Inspector R M Thakore said Dalal operated restaurant and hotel businesses in the Dindoli and Vesu areas. According to police, he had left home around 8:30 pm after receiving a phone call from a friend and headed to Udhna.

Police said the victim sustained five to six stab wounds, which proved fatal. A search operation has been launched to trace the three accused, while officials said the motive behind the altercation remains under investigation.

Following the incident, Dalal’s parents, Nagin and Jayshree Dalal, along with BJP leaders and supporters, reached the hospital. A postmortem examination was conducted at New Civil Hospital on Monday before the body was handed over to the family for final rites.

Recounting the events of the night, Jayshree Dalal said her son was at home until around 8:30 pm when he received a call from a friend. Shortly before leaving, he reportedly told her, “Mummy, I’ll be late tonight, don’t wait for dinner.”

Holding back tears, Jayshree alleged that the accused brutally attacked her son and left him injured on the road. She claimed Jay managed to speak briefly after reaching the hospital and said only one thing: “Call mom.”

Jayshree said Jay was her only son and maintained that he had no personal rivalry with anyone. However, she alleged that the accused had criminal backgrounds and were habitual offenders.

Demanding strict action, Jayshree urged authorities to impose the harshest punishment on those responsible, saying she did not want any other family to suffer a similar tragedy. DeshGujarat