By Sagaya Fernando | November 4, 2026
Rajkot, Gujarat, INDIA: Two migrant farm labourers from Madhya Pradesh, including a 16-year-old boy, were burnt alive after two men allegedly set fire to a vehicle in which they were sleeping in Gujarat’s Amreli district early on Tuesday November 3. Police have arrested two accused in connection with the incident, which is suspected to have stemmed from a financial dispute over the purchase of the vehicle.
The deceased have been identified as Ravi Badhel (16) and Nitin Pachaya (21), both natives of Madhya Pradesh who were working as agricultural labourers in Gundaran village of Liliya taluka.
According to police, the incident occurred around midnight when the two victims were asleep inside a vehicle parked at a farm on the outskirts of Gundaran village. The accused allegedly poured petrol over the vehicle and set it ablaze before fleeing the scene. The flames quickly engulfed the vehicle, trapping both occupants inside.
Upon noticing the fire, family members, including Ravi's father, Kamlesh Badhel, rushed to the spot and attempted to extinguish the flames. However, both victims had already died by the time the fire could be brought under control. Police later recovered their partially burnt bodies from the charred vehicle.
Following the incident, a team from Liliya Police Station, accompanied by forensic experts, visited the scene and initiated an investigation. Based on a complaint lodged by Kamlesh Badhel, police registered a murder case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other applicable provisions.
Acting swiftly, police arrested the alleged main accused, Vinod Dodiyar, and his relative, Raju Dodiyar.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Vismay Manseta said preliminary investigations indicated that the incident was linked to a financial dispute involving an outstanding payment of ₹30,000 for the vehicle.
According to investigators, Vinod had purchased the vehicle from a man identified as Riteshsinh through an instalment arrangement. Although Vinod had paid part of the agreed amount, ₹30,000 remained unpaid. Following a disagreement over the outstanding payment, Riteshsinh allegedly handed over possession of the vehicle to his friend Kamlesh Badhel.
Police said Vinod subsequently approached Riteshsinh and demanded either the return of the vehicle or a refund of the amount he had already paid. However, Riteshsinh reportedly refused both demands, further escalating the dispute.
Investigators suspect that Vinod, angered by the refusal, conspired with his relative Raju to destroy the vehicle.
As part of the alleged plan, the accused first filled their motorcycle with petrol at a fuel station located some distance from the crime scene. They then travelled to the farm, where they reportedly transferred petrol from the motorcycle's fuel tank into four to five small containers.
The accused allegedly poured the petrol inside and around the parked vehicle before setting it on fire and escaping.
Police are investigating whether the accused were aware that two people were sleeping inside the vehicle when they allegedly set it ablaze.
Investigators said neither of the deceased had any known personal dispute with the accused. Their only connection to the financial disagreement was their relationship with Kamlesh Badhel, who had possession of the vehicle.
The incident has raised serious concerns as two young migrant workers lost their lives in a dispute in which they were not directly involved.
Police said further investigations are underway to establish the exact sequence of events, determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ascertain the individual roles of both arrested accused.
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