Rajkot: A heated argument among co-accused who had gathered at a court premises in Bhuj for a hearing in an old murder case allegedly turned violent on Wednesday when a 30-year-old man, who is not an accused in the case, was stabbed in the abdomen.According to a complaint filed with Bhuj City A division police, the accused, Rahul alias Masado Karshan Marwada, allegedly threatened the victim before attacking him with a knife. Police personnel deployed at the court premises intervened immediately and apprehended the accused.According to the complaint, Maheshgar Goswami, a casual painter and resident of Ramnagari in Bhuj, had gone to G K General Hospital with his friend Hirji Khimji Payan for dressing. The two later went to the court premises, where a hearing was scheduled in a 2024 murder case registered at Padhar police station against Hirji’s nephew, Arun Ramji Payan.Arun, along with co-accused Rahul and Kiran Khimji Payan, was also present at the court in connection with the case.At around 11.15 am, an argument reportedly broke out between Rahul, Arun and Kiran in the parking area near the canteen below the court over the old murder case. When Goswami intervened and asked them not to argue loudly, Rahul allegedly abused him.The complaint states that Rahul then accused Goswami of being involved in an earlier dispute and continued to abuse him. He allegedly threatened Goswami and told him that he would not allow him to leave the court premises alive.Rahul allegedly became more aggressive and said, “I have committed one murder, I will commit another one by killing you,” before pulling out a sharp knife and attacking Goswami. The knife allegedly struck Goswami on the right side of his abdomen.Before Rahul could allegedly launch another attack, Arun and Hirji intervened and stopped him. Meanwhile, police personnel stationed at the court premises apprehended Rahul and took him into custody.Hirji then rushed the injured Goswami to G K General Hospital on a motorcycle, where doctors treated him. According to the complaint, doctors informed Goswami that the knife wound on the right side of his abdomen was approximately 2.5 inches deep.Police have registered a case against Rahul based on the complaint filed by Goswami under Sections 109(1), 351(2) and 296(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
