Prime suspect in Dabhoi double murder case surrenders in Vadodara

Vadodara, May 22 (UNI) Dr Jagdish Pankhi, the prime suspect in the double murder case of Dabhoi, today surrendered before the police here.

The 45-year-old homeopathic doctor, who was absconding soon after decomposed bodies of two minor muslim boys were found from his Cielo car at his Dabhoi town residence on Thursday, however, denied his involvement in the crime.

Vadodara District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Wabang Jamir said Pankhi was being interrogated by a team of senior police officers. ''Since the interrogation is at a very preliminary stage, police have not arrested him,'' he added.

The recovery of the bodies of the duo--Taha Belim (7) and Salman Sheikh (5)-- two days after they went missing, triggered communal tension in the Dabhoi town on Thursday with an irate mob taking to the streets and attacking the doctor's family living in Patel Falia.

Though five days have passed, neither the police nor the forensic experts had been able to resolve the mystery behind the deaths of the two children, who were found dead and naked in the car which was reportedly locked and lying unused for several days by the doctor.

Claiming he was totally innocent, Dr Pankhi said he had no other option but to flee from his house to an undisclosed place with his family after his house was attacked by an angry mob.

Talking to the mediapersons before his surrender, Pankhi said, I have not used my car for the last 10 days. The door locking system was also not functioning properly. I believe that miscreants have dumped two bodies into my car as it was not in use.'' About his link with VHP, Dr Pankhi said he was the president of the Dabhoi unit of the VHP for three years before he was removed from the organisation four years ago.

Meanwhile, the investigating agency, who claim the deaths were not accidental, today sent the car to the Directorate of Forensic Sciences at Gandhinagar for a thorough examination. Earlier, the autopsy report had ruled out any sexual abuse of the two victims whose bodies bore no injury marks.

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