Jodhpur: A 23-year-old man was hacked to death by a group of armed men who barged into his house in Sirohi district Monday evening allegedly over his love marriage. His seven-months-pregnant wife and mother were also injured in the attack.The victim, Laxman Ganchi, had returned from Surat to Malgaon village on Nov 9 to celebrate Diwali with his wife, Neeru, and drop her off at his family home ahead of her delivery.Police have arrested five people, including Neeru’s uncle and his four sons, in connection with the murder.Laxman married Neeru, a resident of Nagani, about a year ago against her family’s wishes. After her parents died, she was brought up by her uncle, Shankar Ganchi. The marriage had reportedly triggered a dispute between the two families.According to police, Laxman was at home around 6.30pm with his mother, Hanja Devi, and Neeru when Shankar, his sons Jitu, Kamlesh, Deepak and Natha Ram, and another unidentified person allegedly entered the house armed with axes, swords and sickles. They attacked Laxman, repeatedly striking him with sharp weapons.When Hanja Devi tried to intervene, she was assaulted and sustained injuries to three fingers on her left hand and to her waist. Neeru was also pushed to the ground when she tried to save her husband. The attackers allegedly tried to chase Laxman’s brother Kishan, who was outside the house, but he escaped.Laxman was first taken to Anadara PHC and then referred to the sub-district hospital in Abu Road, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His body was handed over to the family after a post-mortem Tuesday.Anadara SHO Amararam Khokhar said Shankar had summoned his sons, who worked in Ahmedabad, after learning that Laxman had returned to the village.
