Cops yet to make headway in Rekha Jadeja murder case

Rajkot, May 22 (UNI) Police are yet to make any headway in the Rekha Jadeja murder case even 48 hrs, after the crime.

Rekha Kandhal Jadeja (32), daughter-in-law of 'Godmother' Santokben Jadeja, was gunned down at her residence on Klavad road area here on early morning of May 20.

Unideintifed assailants had fired at her indiscriminately and killing her on the spot.

Rajkot Police Commissioner K Nityanandam told UNI, ''We are investigating but, so far, not much progress has been made.'' He said as per complaint by Bhoja, son of Sanotkben Jadeja, three suspects were rounded up yesterday from Porbandar for interrogations.

The police have detained Dilip Odedara, Rama Nebha and Samant Gogan from Porbandar and have brought them here for interrogations.

With the murder of Rekha Jadeja, the gang war in Porbandar has assumed new dimensions as it is for the first time that a woman has been killed.

Santokben Jadeja's husband Sarman Munja was killed in 1986 by members of rival gang and this prompted her to don the role of ''Godmother''. In 1986, a Congress leader Jeevabhai Keshwala was also shot dead. Earlier, in 1977, an independent MLA from Porbandar, Vasanji Thakkarar, was killed during an election campain in Porbandar. In March last year, BJP councilor Keshu Nebha Odedara was killed and two of Santokben's sons -- Karan and Kandhal, are already in custody in connection with this case. Santokben too was arrested in this case in August last year but is out on bail and resides with her son Bhoja.

Santokben Jadeja's clout in Saurashtra region had induced Bollywood to make a film ''Godmother'' on her life, which starred Shabana Azmi.

UNI AV MAZ VD HT1804