Clothed like a woman, how a Dalit man was burnt alive in Gujarat for the sake of an illicit relationship

Indian Express

28-05-2025

In a chilling murder case from North Gujarat, a 56-year-old Dalit man was allegedly burnt alive by a young married woman and her lover in a disturbing attempt to fake her death and escape her marriage. The incident, initially mistaken for a caste-based hate crime, took a shocking turn after police investigations uncovered a sinister plot driven by an illicit affair.
On Wednesday at 4 am, Patan Police apprehended 22-year-old Geeta and her lover Bharat Lubha Ahir at Palanpur railway station in Banaskantha district. The couple was found with train tickets to Jodhpur, Rajasthan, as they attempted to flee after allegedly murdering Harji Debha Solanki, a casual labourer from Vauva village.
The Shocking Discovery and Disguise
The case first came to light on the morning of May 27 when a half-burnt body was found near Sutaroki Talavadi in Jakhotra village, 15 km northwest of Santalpur town in Patan district. The body—dressed in an orange embroidered blouse, a blue ghaghra, and anklets—led locals to initially believe it belonged to a woman.
Meanwhile, the man who discovered the body, Suresh Genga Bhima Ahir, reported that his 22-year-old wife Geeta had gone missing the previous night around 11 pm. The clothing on the body appeared to be hers, raising further suspicions.
Despite the initial confusion, the police soon realized the body was that of a man. An FIR was filed at the Santalpur police station on May 28 based on a complaint by Pancha Debha Solanki, who identified the victim as his younger brother, Harji Debha Solanki. The body was confirmed at GMERS Dharpur Civil Hospital, where the post-mortem revealed the cause of death was severe burn injuries.
Further investigations uncovered a dark plot. Geeta, who had fallen in love with Bharat just three to four months prior, allegedly conspired with him to fake her death using a male body dressed in her clothes. The aim: to throw off her family and escape to start a new life.
According to Patan Superintendent of Police VK Nayi, Bharat scouted for a vulnerable victim across several villages before settling on Harji Solanki, who was elderly and frail. Bharat allegedly strangled Harji, tied his limp body to a motorcycle, and transported it to Jakhotra village.
Witnesses told police they had seen Bharat with the body, and when questioned, he claimed Solanki was ill and needed medical help. Later that night, Geeta joined Bharat. Together, they dressed the still-alive Solanki in her clothes, doused him in petrol, and set him on fire near her marital home.
Geeta's husband, who awoke due to their child crying, found the burning body dressed in his wife's clothes, triggering immediate panic and police involvement.
Final Moments and Arrest
Tragically, post-mortem findings confirmed that Solanki was still alive when he was set on fire, indicating he died in excruciating pain from burn injuries. Petrol pump staff later confirmed that Geeta had filled a can with petrol, which, according to the police, was used in the crime.
As police dug deeper into Geeta's disappearance and uncovered her affair, they tracked the couple using mobile phone triangulation and CCTV footage. Geeta and Bharat were finally located at Palanpur railway station with train tickets in hand, ready to escape to Rajasthan. They were detained by the Local Crime Branch of Patan Police, brought to Patan city, and then were enroute to Santalpur police station where they will be formally placed under arrest.