A 40-year-old construction site supervisor allegedly murdered his five-year-old daughter before taking his own life at their home in Rajula taluka of Amreli district, police said on Friday. The case has been registered under section 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and further investigation is underway, officials said.
Discovery and initial probe
Police said the deaths were discovered on Wednesday evening after the man's wife returned from her father's house and was unable to contact her husband. She sent her brother to check the house when attempts to reach the couple failed. On finding no response at the residence, the brother forced entry and found the man hanging from a ceiling fan.
Rajula Deputy Superintendent of Police Nayana Goradiya told news agency PTI that the husband, identified as Kishore Dhanak, had allegedly smothered his daughter Himanshi earlier at the residence and then placed her body inside a refrigerator before hanging himself.
Notes at the scene and stated motive
The FIR recorded by police states that three suicide notes were found on a bed. According to the complaint filed by the wife, one of the notes said Dhanak had taken a personal loan and invested the money in construction work. He wrote that he was expecting ₹7.25 lakh from business associates but had not received the amount, and that he had run out of options.
"He had to receive ₹7.25 lakh, but they (business friends) had not given him anything. Now he had no money and could not find any solution, and hence, he was committing suicide with his daughter," the FIR stated.
In another note, Dhanak reportedly said he had killed his daughter because he did not want her to suffer after his death. The third contained an apology and disclosed that he had put the child's body in the refrigerator, the FIR adds.
Scene description and apparent staging
Inspector P L Chaudhary, quoted by PTI, said the atmosphere in one room suggested an arranged final celebration for the child. "There was something unusual about the room," the inspector said, noting that it was decorated with balloons and candles and that Dhanak had dressed Himanshi in white clothing.
Legal and investigative steps
Police registered the case under the relevant section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder and are conducting further inquiries, including forensic examination and statements from family members. No arrests or charges against third parties have been reported so far.
Timeline
| Event | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Wife visits father's house; unable to contact husband | September 14 (wife left for father's house) |
| Relative checks house; finds bodies | Wednesday evening (discovery) |
| FIR registered under BNS 103(1) | Following discovery (reported Friday) |
Local impact and broader concerns
The incident has drawn attention to family distress, debt pressures and access to mental-health support in semi-urban and rural parts of Saurashtra. Local residents and authorities will likely examine the financial transactions and social links that Dhanak referenced in his notes.
Community groups and child-welfare advocates routinely stress the need for early intervention where families face economic stress. While the FIR cites unpaid dues as a motive, police investigations must establish timelines, third-party liabilities and the precise circumstances that led to the deaths.
What the police will examine next
- Forensic autopsy reports to confirm cause and time of death for both victims.
- Verification of the alleged ₹7.25 lakh receivable — bank records, agreements and statements from identified business associates.
- Statements from family members and neighbours about household dynamics and any prior signs of distress.
Authorities have not released further details about the financial dealings mentioned in the notes. The probe is ongoing and the local police said they would provide updates as enquiries proceed.
