TWO FARM LABOURERS, INCLUDING 16-YEAR-OLD BOY, BURNT ALIVE IN GUJARAT OVER ₹30,000 VEHICLE DISPUTE
November 3, 2026
AMRELI, NOVEMBER 3: Two farm labourers, including a 16-year-old boy, were burnt alive after two men allegedly set fire to a pickup vehicle in which they were sleeping on the outskirts of Gundaran village in Liliya taluka of Gujarat's Amreli district early Tuesday. Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the double murder, which investigators believe was triggered by a financial dispute involving an outstanding payment of ₹30,000.
The deceased have been identified as Ravi Badhel, 16, and Nitin Pachaya, 21. Both were originally from Madhya Pradesh and were employed as agricultural labourers in Gundaran village. Their partially burnt bodies were recovered from the charred vehicle.
According to the preliminary police investigation, the victims were sleeping inside the vehicle parked at a farm when the accused allegedly arrived during the night, poured petrol over it and set it on fire. The two occupants became trapped inside and died in the blaze. Ravi's father, Kamlesh Badhel, and other family members rushed to the spot after learning about the incident and attempted to extinguish the flames, but both men had already died.
The Liliya police, accompanied by forensic experts, reached the scene and initiated an investigation. A case has been registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other relevant provisions.
Police detained the alleged main accused, Vinod Dodiyar, and his relative, Raju Dodiyar, within hours of the incident. Deputy Superintendent of Police Vismay Manseta said investigators suspected that the murders were connected to a dispute over the purchase of the vehicle and an outstanding payment of ₹30,000.
According to the preliminary findings, Vinod had purchased the passenger vehicle from a man named Riteshsinh through instalments. Although he had made partial payments, ₹30,000 remained outstanding. Following the dispute, Riteshsinh allegedly handed possession of the vehicle to his friend Kamlesh, the father of one of the victims, stating that the vehicle would be handed over to Vinod after the outstanding amount was settled.
Vinod allegedly became angry over the vehicle remaining in Kamlesh's possession. When he approached Riteshsinh demanding either the return of the vehicle or a refund of the money already paid, his demands were reportedly rejected.
Investigators suspect that Vinod and his relative subsequently planned to set the vehicle on fire. Police said the accused allegedly purchased petrol at a fuel station, transferred it from their motorcycle into four or five small containers near the farm, poured it inside and outside the vehicle and then ignited it before fleeing.
The police are continuing their investigation into the double murder, including the financial transactions and circumstances surrounding the vehicle dispute.
