A 27-year-old man was stabbed to death late Wednesday night while celebrating his birthday with friends near the Pink City Blind Welfare Centre in Ranip. Police identified the victim as Naresh Raymalbhai Thakor, who was allegedly attacked by four men over an old financial dispute.
According to the FIR filed at Ranip Police Station, Naresh was celebrating his birthday around 11 pm on October 8 when the accused — Prem alias Hado Sundaji Thakor, Ritik Ashokbhai Thakor, Ritik alias Rithi Nathabhai Sagara, and Sumeet Vijaybhai Rajak, all residents of Kaligam, Sabarmati — confronted him.
The complaint, lodged by Naresh’s elder brother Pintu Thakor (30), stated that the accused had a long-standing quarrel with Naresh over a loan involving one Prakash Thakor, who had allegedly demanded extra interest on money lent against a mortgaged motorcycle. “The dispute had led to several heated arguments between Naresh and Prakash’s relatives,” Pintu told police.
During the birthday celebration, the four accused allegedly arrived at the spot, hurled abuses, and picked a fight. In the ensuing scuffle, Ritik Thakor reportedly held Naresh while Prem alias Hado Thakor stabbed him in the chest with a knife.
Witnesses said Naresh tried to escape but collapsed on the road soon after. His friends rushed him to Trisha Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The accused fled the scene immediately after the attack.
Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Gujarat Police Act for murder and unlawful assembly. Investigators said efforts are underway to trace the accused using local intelligence and CCTV footage. The victim’s body was sent to Civil Hospital, Asarwa, for postmortem.
The investigation is ongoing.