Santokben’s nephew killed, Jadeja family war revives

Porbandar police have now stepped up patrolling to avoid any untoward incidents and revenge killings.

According to cops at the Kirtimandir police station, at 7.30 pm on Sunday, there was some heated exchange between Ramde Odedara and Ebha Arjan, another nephew of Santokben, over some issue when the former was passing by the latter’s house. The argument turned violent and six rounds of bullets were fired. Odedara and his group allegedly stabbed four people.

Navghan Arsi (23), who was severely injured, was shifted to G G Hospital in Jamnagar, where he breathed his last on Monday. Jetha Bhoya Odedara, who was present during the incident at the Jadejas’ house, has registered a complaint of murder and attempt to murder against 11 persons, including Ramde Odedara, Lakha Odedara, Punja Odedara, Viram, Keshu, Gagu.

‘’It’s kind of a gang war. The complaint says a heated exchange resulted in firing and stabbing. Police investigation is on to know whether the incident was fuelled by any past rivalry,” said T Nipurna of Porbandar Police, adding, “Patrolling has been intensified in the city to avoid any untoward incident or revenge killing”.

Sarman Munja, Santokben’s husband, who oversaw the roots of a gang war in Porbandar, had two other brothers — Bhura and Arsi. While Bhura was involved in gang wars and politics in the past, and has a couple of criminal cases against him, Arsi, who has led a normal life, was the only non-controversial one among them.

After Sarman was killed, Santokben stepped into the crime world with Bhura’s help. Arsi and his family, however, stayed away from the scene. The Kotda gang, led by Lakha Odedara who also Sarman’s maternal uncle developed rivalry with Santokben’s gang over estate and limestone contracts in the region. It was Kotda gang which was involved in the visi scam (lending of money by private financiers) in Rajkot in the 1980s.