4th murder in Rajkot in 3 months; serial killer suspected

Another person was found murdered in the city today, the fourth since April, adding to suspicion that a serial killer, whose weapon of choice is stone, is on the loose.
Dhirubhai Vikani (58), resident of Mavdi area, was found murdered at a bus pick-up spot in Shapar industrial area this morning.
"He had been hit on the head with a stone," sub-inspector D P Unadkat of Rajkot rural crime branch said.
On April 21, Sagar Bharwad (28) was found murdered near Bhaktinagar Railway station while on May 25, an auto-rickshaw driver named Pravin Barad was found murdered near the gate of Saurashtra University. Both had been hit with a stone.

On June 2, Vallabh Rangani (60), resident of Mavdi, was murdered while on morning walk.
Subsequently, police released a sketch of the suspected 'stone killer' based on a CCTV grab in which a tall person can be seen walking with Rangani.
Police commissioner Anupamsinh Gehlot has formed several teams to nab the killer and announced a cash reward of Rs two lakhs for any information leading to him.
"There is a possibility that the stone killer may have killed Vikani, but we are investigating other angles too and finding out if Vikani had enmity with anyone who may have killed him using the stone killer's modus operandi to mislead the police," said Antrip Sood, Rajkot rural superintendent of police.