Guj: Forest guard held for killing woman associate, 2 others

A forest guard was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly killing a woman associate, her husband and a casual labourer who worked with forest department in Gujarat's Porbandar district, police said.

Bodies of beat guard Hetalben Solanki (30), who was pregnant, her husband Kirtibhai Solanki and daily w labourer Nagabhai Agath were found in Barda wildlife sanctuary in Porbandar district on Monday, two days after y went missing.

accused, Lakhman Odedara (32), was arrested after preliminary investigation revealed that he accompanied victims deep into forest area on August 15, Porbandar Superintendent of Police Ravi Mohan Saini told reporters.

accused confessed that he killed three persons re, official said.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that Odedara knew Hetalben for last three years ever since she was posted in beat and wanted to have a relationship with her," he said.

After Odedara's wife learnt about this two years ago, both of m used to have fights over issue. y again fought over it around 20 days back, and Odedara's wife told him that Hetalben threatened her.

"Odedara n hatched a plan to kill Hetalben and her husband and roped in Agath to inform her about some illegal activities going on in forest area," Saini said.

To check illegal activities, all four went into forest, where Odedara allegedly killed three persons at different places by hitting on ir hes with a wooden stick, police said in a statement.

Furr investigation was underway, and more evidence was being collected, y said.

" or person has been found to be involved in murders so far, but we are investigating case from or angles as well," Saini said.

After three persons went missing, more than 100 district police personnel launched a massive search operation in area on August 16, using technical surveillance, sniffer dogs, and drone cameras, police release said.

On Monday morning, bodies with injury marks on hes were found at different places within sanctuary area, it said.

As per FIR lodged at Bagvar police station, Hetalben's far raised suspicion over Odedara, who worked with her since 2017, and based on it accused was questioned and subsequently arrested, police said. 

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