Midnight birthday outing turns tragic as man killed, friend injured during theft bid

According to police, Manvani suffered 12 stab wounds, including to his head, neck and torso.

The woman sustained four stab wounds including to her neck and stomach and is recuperating at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. According to doctors, her condition is stable after undergoing surgery.

Though the incident took place in the jurisdiction of Gandhinagar Police, officials from the Crime Branch of Ahmedabad City Police as well as the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) have joined the investigation to apprehend the murderer, who is still at large.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Police Inspector L D Odedara of Adalaj police station said, “Manvani and his friends were out celebrating his birthday on Friday (September 19) night. At about 12:15 am on Saturday (September 20), they dropped a female friend near Tapovan circle. Later, Manvani and his friend stopped the car next to the Narmada Canal. At about 1:15 am, the accused approached them and tried to loot them. They tried to defend, but the accused stabbed them with a sharp weapon.”

The woman ran off from the place along Tapovan-Koba road and sat down along the road. About 15 minutes later, she borrowed the phone from a passerby and informed her father, who, in turn, called an ambulance and shifted her to hospital. Meanwhile, the police reached the spot.

Police found Manvani dead at the crime scene and his body was sent for postmortem.
Asked if the murderer had attempted to flee with the car of the deceased, Inspector Odedara said that it appeared that he left the vehicle behind after he failed to start it.

A manhunt has been launched to nab the accused. “At least 700-metre radius around the canal is a jungle area and the nearest residential areas are Ambapur and Amiyapur villages,” said Odedara.