A domestic dispute in Ahmedabad’s Naroda neighbourhood ended in a tragedy on Thursday night, resulting in the death of a 39-year-old retired Army serviceman. The victim, identified as Dilip Kharadi, sustained a fatal stab wound to his chest during an altercation with his wife, Nirmala Kharadi, at their residence in Naroda Smart City-2. The incident, which reportedly stemmed from a disagreement over the meal prepared for dinner, has left the community in shock and the couple's two children without their father.
According to Naroda police, the couple had been experiencing persistent friction for nearly a year, with frequent arguments reported over various domestic and financial matters. The confrontation on Thursday night began when Dilip questioned his wife about the specific vegetable she had prepared for their dinner. The exchange quickly intensified, leading to a heated verbal dispute where both parties allegedly used abusive language. The situation took a lethal turn when Nirmala purportedly grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her husband in the chest.
The events following the stabbing were outlined by police investigators and the victim's family. Following the attack, the accused allegedly contacted her brother-in-law, Mukesh, to inform him that she had stabbed her husband during an argument. She reportedly told him that Dilip had lost consciousness and that she was in the process of taking him to Shalby Hospital for emergency medical treatment. By the following afternoon, Mukesh relayed the information to his father, 73-year-old Somaji Kharadi, a retired assistant sub-inspector from the Rajkot city police.
Upon arriving at the hospital, the family was informed by medical staff that Dilip had succumbed to his injuries. In the formal complaint lodged with the authorities, Somaji noted that in addition to the primary stab wound on the left side of the chest, there were visible injuries on the victim's right cheek, upper arm, and near the thumbs of both hands. These details, along with the nature of the primary wound, form a significant part of the ongoing police investigation into the exact sequence of events that led to the confrontation.
Law enforcement officials acted swiftly following the incident. Multiple teams from the Naroda police were deployed to locate the accused, utilising CCTV footage from the surrounding area and gathering local intelligence. Nirmala Kharadi was taken into custody within hours of the crime. Authorities have since registered a formal murder case against her, supplemented by relevant charges under the Gujarat Police Act. The accused is currently being questioned to clarify the circumstances that led to the escalation of the dispute.
The victim, Dilip Kharadi, had completed his service in the Indian Army in 2022 and had more recently been employed as a contractual driver with the Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation. The tragic nature of the case, involving a veteran and a long-standing domestic conflict, has drawn significant attention. Police inspector B. M. Katariya stated that investigators are working to build a comprehensive case, and the focus remains on gathering evidence to determine the precise timeline of the fatal confrontation. As the investigation progresses, legal proceedings against the accused will continue, while the family of the deceased deals with the aftermath of the incident.
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