'Witch Doctor' Turned Killer Dies in Custody; Police Uncover Chilling Murder Trail Across Gujarat

In a case that has left the city of Ahmedabad and the state of Gujarat in shock, the police have unraveled a chilling saga of deceit and murder involving 42-year-old Navalsinh Chavda, a self-styled 'witch doctor'. Arrested for the attempted murder of a businessman, Chavda allegedly confessed to killing 12 people, including three members of his own family. He died in police custody on December 8, reportedly due to a sudden illness.

Chavda was apprehended on December 3 while attempting to kill a businessman in Sanand by promising to quadruple his money through occult rituals.

A Trail of Murders Across Gujarat

During his interrogation, Chavda admitted to murders spanning several districts: one in Ahmedabad, six in Surendranagar (including his grandmother, mother, and uncle), three in Rajkot, and one each in Wankaner and Anjar. His weapon of choice was sodium nitrite dissolved in water, a method he reportedly learned from another tantrik.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivam Verma confirmed that Chavda sourced the chemical from a lab in Surendranagar. Sodium nitrite, commonly used in dry cleaning, can induce heart attacks and cause death within 15–20 minutes.

Chilling Revelations

Chavda’s crimes were exposed by his taxi business partner, Jigar Gohil, who suspected foul play in the death of his brother, Vivek Gohil. Vivek, who allegedly died in a road accident in August 2021, was later found to have been poisoned. This revelation led to Chavda’s arrest and the unmasking of his dark practices.

A Mask of Superstition and Deceit

Chavda claimed to possess supernatural powers and operated a temple in Surendranagar, where he practiced black magic and recorded videos for his YouTube channel. His alleged victims were lured with promises of financial gains or solutions to their problems through tantrik rituals.

Custodial Death

On Sunday, while in police custody, Chavda complained of chest pain and was rushed to a hospital, where he was declared dead. Police had secured his remand until December 10, but his sudden death has cut short further investigations.

Impact on the Community

This case has left Ahmedabad and surrounding regions in shock. Authorities are now delving deeper into Chavda’s network and the extent of his activities to prevent such tragedies in the future.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Sreelekshmi P/MSM)