India: Woman beaten to death hours before wedding; groom-to-be is missing

On what was supposed to be one of the happiest periods of her life, bride-to-be Soni Rathod was found viciously beaten in her fiancé’ Sajan Baraiya’s house in Gujarat city Bhavnagar, reported Times of India, last week. He is the prime suspect in the crime and remains missing.

The couple had been in a relationship for over eight months and had begun the ceremonies typical of a Hindu marriage. It would have been solemnized on Friday.

Hours before the ceremony, said Soni’s older brother Vipul, who filed a complaint at Gangajaliya police station, the couple argued and Soni rushed back to her maternal grandmother’s home.

According to Vipul, Sajan followed Soni’s retreat and after an altercation with her father, forced Soni to leave with him. This was the last time the family would see her.

While the distraught relatives searched for the missing couple through the night, it was only in the morning that they learnt what had happened.

Deputy superintendent of police, R R Singhal, told media that she had suffered blunt force trauma – her head had been hit against a wall and an iron pipe had been wielded against her – resulting in her demise.

A hunt is on for the missing groom.