A 24-year-old woman in Bhavnagar was allegedly beaten to death by her fiancé barely an hour before their wedding on Saturday, following a heated argument over a saree and money, police said.
The incident took place at a house near Tekri Chowk in the Prabhudas Lake area. The victim, Soni Himmat Rathod, had been living with the accused, Sajan Baraiya, for the past one to one-and-a-half years. The couple had completed most of the pre-wedding rituals and were set to tie the knot on Saturday night.
According to police, a quarrel broke out between the two shortly before the ceremony. In a fit of rage, Sajan allegedly picked up an iron pipe and struck Soni multiple times. He then reportedly banged her head against a wall, causing fatal injuries. After the attack, he vandalised the house and fled the scene.
A police team rushed to the spot after receiving a call from neighbours. Soni was declared dead, and her body was sent for post-mortem examination.
DSP R.R. Singhal said the couple had been living together despite opposition from their families and had been involved in frequent disputes. “An argument over a saree and money escalated. The accused used an iron pipe and later slammed her head against the wall,” he said. A murder case has been registered, and efforts are underway to trace Sajan.
Police sources revealed that earlier on Saturday, Sajan had also fought with a neighbour, leading to a separate complaint against him. He allegedly damaged property and cars before leaving the area, threatening to return with kerosene or petrol and “burn everything.”
A second FIR related to the murder has now been filed. The investigation is ongoing, and police are verifying Sajan’s movements and possible escape routes.