Killer warned ex-fiancee: ‘Shankar won't see sunset'
Police sources told TOI that the fiancée, a woman constable posted in Jaipur, dismissed the threat as just another of Katariya's rants. She did not warn Balai, her distant cousin. She did not know Katariya meant it.
After surrendering to police, Katariya, a constable with the 12th Battalion of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) in New Delhi, narrated how he went off the radar after his duty shift on Monday. Instead of depositing his service-issued self loading rifle (SLR), he dismantled it, packed it in a bag and boarded a bus to Jaipur.
He arrived at Sindhi Camp bus stand early Tuesday, booked an offline cab, and headed straight to Vatika Infotech City township in Bagru, around 47 km from Jaipur, where Balai lived.
Near the house, Katariya unzipped the bag inside the cab, assembled the SLR and pointed it at the stunned driver.
"Hand over the keys and run," he said. The driver obeyed. He sprinted to the township gate and alerted a guard. The two then began running back toward the villa.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You
Villas in Dubai | Search Ads
Get Info
Around 6:30am, Balai stepped outside his home with neem twigs in hand, brushing his teeth by the gate. His two children were asleep inside. His wife, Saroj, had stepped out to buy milk from a nearby house.
Katariya was waiting. He parked the cab outside the house. As Balai walked out the gate, an argument broke out between the two. Suddenly, Katariya pulled the rifle and aimed at his victim. Balai bolted, trying to escape through an empty plot. He chased Balai for nearly 20 metres, shooting as he ran. Bullets struck Balai in the back, neck and thigh. He collapsed, bleeding on the road — just moments before the guard and driver returned.
Hearing the gunshots, they froze about 100 metres away.
Local resident Sita Ram Gora recalled how Balai's wife came running, horrified. "She saw him lying in a pool of blood," Gora said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Cops hunt down those behind casteist posts
Madurai: It has been barely ten days since C Kavin Selva Ganesh was hacked to death in a caste murder in Tirunelveli, but a simple search online will throw up anonymous social media posts with casteist undertones in Tamil supporting the accused Surjith. If outfits promoting their caste's history/culture used to be within closed communities before, it has now taken another form in the digital space. It is in this context that south zone police, through cyber crime police and social media cell, have intensified crackdown on those sharing, promoting casteist content and making such provocative comments on social media platforms. Prem Anand Sinha, inspector general of police (IG), south zone, told TOI that they have arrested 136 people this year across the zone who were involved in posting objectionable casteist and communal content on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). "The social media cell is monitoring the content on social media by links that get circulated and gain traction, and searching for hashtags and initiating action," he said. Objectionable casteist content can include anything from hate speech against a particular caste or community to displaying weapons or making certain gestures to showcase the 'pride' of a particular caste, the IG said. "There have even been cases of caste-based groups running fan clubs for people of a particular caste who even have criminal cases against them, and glorifying them. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo The mindset behind such activities on social media is that they can get away with it but it is not so," he added. According to official data, a total of 119 cases have been registered in 2025 across 10 southern districts, including Tirunelveli city, for objectionable casteist/communal posts on social media platforms. A vast majority of 79 cases were registered just in Tirunelveli district limits alone. It was a sizable increase compared to last year when only 33 cases were booked in the district. "Once we find objectionable casteist content, we can take steps to deactivate/block the account by making a request to the particular social media platform. Steps are also taken to delete/remove any inappropriate videos with casteist content," added Sinha. The cases are generally registered under sections 147, 352, and 353 of BNS, for promoting enmity between different groups, intentional insult, and statements conducing to public mischief. Activists meanwhile called for creating more awareness and sensitization among youths, particularly at school and college levels. "Caste violence is alarmingly being perpetrated by more youngsters than those of older age groups, particularly in districts like Tirunelveli. The need of the hour is a comprehensive caste sensitisation programme," said R Murali, state president, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Tamil Nadu. Around 10 students in each college of different castes can be picked as ambassadors and activities such as debates, watching documentary screenings, book readings can be organised regularly to promote harmony and give them exposure to different perspectives, he said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
4,000+ motorists speeding on Coastal Rd challaned this year
Mumbai: More than 4,000 motorists were challaned by Mumbai traffic police for speeding on the Coastal Road so far this year, with fines issued running up to Rs 82 lakh. Around 1,500 challans have been cleared and Rs 31 lakh in fines paid by offenders so far, the police said. Additionally, the Regional Transport Office (RTO) challaned another 596 motorists for crossing speed limits, including several high-end vehicles such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi. Next, the police plan to go after motorists driving in the bus lane as it hinders the removal of broken down vehicles during emergencies. Residents of south Mumbai have long complained about reckless driving and noise on Coastal Road. "The Coastal Road has become a racing track for fast cars because of the low volume of traffic on the stretch. Fast cars are modified to create loud noise. This is disturbing our peace," said Worli resident and businessman Viren Shah. He added on Sundays, racing enthusiasts gather at a set time, with over a dozen motorists participating. Mukul Mehra, secretary of Nepean Sea Road Citizens Forum, said dangerous driving is witnessed regularly. "Incidents include motorists cutting across three lanes of traffic, at times, in sports cars. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Kate Middleton's Daring Outfit Took Prince William's Breath Away Crowdy Fan Undo The Forum has shared video evidence with the police to substantiate our claims," he said. "There could be a major collision where these fast cars could be a cause, even if not directly involved in the crash," said Mehra. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Prompted by such complaints, the RTO set up an interceptor vehicle on the Coastal Road. The vehicle captures speed and generates challans. Traffic police also set up a similar interceptor vehicle earlier this year. "On the south-bound arm of the Coastal Road at Worli and on the north-bound arm near the tunnel, electronic displays have also been put up that show the speed of vehicles passing in the lane beneath. Seven speed cameras are being set up for automatic generation of challans," said a police official. Of the total 596 challans issued by the transport department, Tardeo RTO generated 306 and Wadala RTO 290. Four squads have been positioned near crucial entry and exit points to monitor violations. Mehra argued that owners of high-end vehicles spend around Rs 1,500 just on fuel for travelling from Haji Ali to Marine Drive, raising doubts as to whether the fine of Rs 2,000 is deterrent enough. A Breach Candy resident said speeding during the day time appeared to be somewhat under control due to the interceptor vehicles. "But speedsters have figured out that early morning and late night could still work for racing, especially on weekends," she said. The Coastal Road accommodates a daily average of 18,000 to 20,000 vehicles.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Doubtful conduct of an accused not enough for conviction: SC
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court has ruled that the doubtful conduct of an accused cannot be the sole criterion to convict him if there is no other evidence to prove his involvement in a crime and acquitted a murder convict who was sentenced to life imprisonment. Setting aside the trial court and high court's order of conviction, a bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said: "In this context, we deem it necessary to sound a note of caution. While the conduct of an accused may be a relevant fact under Section 8 of Indian Evidence Act, it cannot, by itself, serve as the sole basis for conviction, especially in a grave charge such as murder. Like any other piece of evidence, the conduct of the accused is merely one of the circumstances the court may consider, in conjunction with other direct or circumstantial evidence on record. To put it succinctly, although relevant, the accused's conduct alone cannot justify a conviction in the absence of cogent and credible supporting evidence". The trial court and Chhattisgarh high court had relied on the conduct of the accused, who had allegedly approached the police and lodged an FIR admitting that he committed the offence, to pronounce him guilty. But the apex court said an FIR of a confessional nature lodged by an accused person is inadmissible as evidence against him, except to the extent that it shows he made a statement soon after the offence, thereby identifying him as the maker of the report, which is admissible as evidence of his conduct under the Act. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Most Beautiful Female Athletes Right Now Undo "Additionally, any information furnished by him that leads to the discovery of a fact is admissible under Section 27 of the Act. However, a non-confessional FIR is admissible against the accused as an admission under Section 21 of the Act and is relevant," the bench said. The prosecution told the bench that the accused himself had gone to the police station and lodged the FIR and he also led the investigating officer and the panchnama witnesses to a place where he had kept the clothes worn by him during the incident. These were enough to convict him, it submitted. The bench, however, rejected the plea and said, "The legal position, therefore, is this - a statement contained in the FIR furnished by one of the accused in the case cannot, in any manner, be used against another accused. Even against the accused who made it, the statement cannot be used if it is inculpatory in nature nor can it be used for the purpose of corroboration or contradiction unless its maker offers himself as a witness in the trial. The very limited use of it is, as an admission under Section 21 of the Act, against its maker alone, and only if the admission does not amount to a confession".
