Principal kills teacher wife, sets body on fire near Dholka

Ahmedabad: A couple, both teachers, leave home together on Wednesday for census duty. On the way, the woman “goes missing” and the man approaches police to file a missing person’s complaint. Only, the woman — Reena Zala, 45, a teacher at Chaloda Primary School — is found dead near the Narmada Canal on the outskirts of Dholka the same day, her body partially burnt. It was no mysterious disappearance, but spousal homicide, investigation into the case has revealed. Reena’s husband, Baldev, principal of a govt primary school in Khatripur village, allegedly killed Reena and burnt her body to destroy evidence. Police said Baldev confessed to the murder after investigators confronted him with technical and circumstantial evidence, and was arrested on Thursday.

A local farmer spotted the body near the canal embankment on an isolated stretch between Chaloda and Keliyavasna villages and alerted police. The gruesome discovery triggered a large-scale investigation involving Dholka Rural police, the surveillance squad and Ahmedabad Rural Local Crime Branch.

According to police, the couple had left home in Dholka on Wednesday on a scooter for census fieldwork. An argument allegedly broke out between the two, after which Baldev drove towards a deserted road near the canal, police said. Parking the scooter in a secluded area surrounded by thorny bushes, he allegedly struck Reena on the head with a stone until she died. He then siphoned petrol from his scooter, poured it over her body and set it on fire. Police believe he intended to destroy evidence and prevent identification of the victim.

According to investigators, Baldev returned home and told family members and neighbours that Reena had gone missing, and that her mobile phone was switched off. He later approached police to lodge a missing person’s complaint.

Investigators grew suspicious while examining the couple’s movements and gathering technical evidence. During questioning Baldev broke down and admitted to killing his wife, police said.

Deputy superintendent of police P M Prajapati said the accused cited long-standing domestic disputes as the reason behind the crime. He allegedly told investigators that disagreements had become frequent and that he often felt isolated during family matters. Dholka Rural police have registered a case of murder and destruction of evidence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.