Family of Four Brutally Murdered and Set Ablaze in Rajasthan Village

In a gruesome and haunting crime, four members of a family, including a six-month-old baby girl, were brutally murdered and their bodies set on fire in the courtyard of their home in Osian village, Rajasthan, located about 50 km from Jodhpur city.

The shocking incident has sparked a sharp criticism from the Opposition BJP towards the Ashok Gehlot-led government, especially since the crime occurred in Jodhpur, the Chief Minister’s home district.

According to the police, the horrifying incident took place in Chaurai village, where locals noticed smoke emanating from Punaram’s (55) residence and alerted the authorities. Upon entering the house, the charred bodies of Punaram, his wife Bhanwri (50), and daughter-in-law Dhapu were discovered in the courtyard. Alongside Dhapu’s body lay the lifeless remains of her six-month-old daughter.

The family’s primary source of income was farming.

Investigations indicate that the killers slit the throats of the victims before dragging their bodies to the courtyard and setting them on fire. Police are exploring all possible angles, including personal enmity, to establish the motive behind the horrific murders.

A forensic team is conducting examinations at the crime scene, while district authorities, including Collector Himanshu Gupta and Jodhpur Rural police chief Dharmendra Singh, are closely monitoring the situation in the area.

The BJP has severely criticized the Ashok Gehlot government over the incident, raising concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. They questioned the state of law and order in the Chief Minister’s own district, expressing worry about the safety of citizens in other regions.

In response to the shocking tragedy, local Congress MLA Divya Maderna expressed her concerns about the safety of women in the state and how she, as a woman, did not feel safe herself. She emphasized the importance of ensuring safety for all women, particularly those whose voices are represented in the Assembly.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, an MP from Rajasthan’s Bikaner, accused the Congress government of overseeing a disturbing increase in crime rates. He alleged that the state witnesses as many as 17 rapes and seven murders daily since the Congress government took power.

The Union Minister also criticized Chief Minister Gehlot, claiming that the law and order situation in the state was deteriorating under his leadership. Referring to the 2020 rebellion led by Sachin Pilot, which posed a threat to the Gehlot government, he suggested that MLAs had gained significant power and influence in the state’s political landscape.

The BJP’s fierce criticism of Chief Minister Gehlot comes at a crucial time, just months before the Rajasthan Assembly polls, during which the Congress is striving to present a united front.