VADODARA: Three tribals were murdered in two separate incident of killings in the district on Wednesday. The first of the two killings which took place in Chhota Udepur is dubbed as a double murder case.

According to preliminary investigation report prepared by the police, one Dahesingh Rathwa (27) and another Variya Rathwa (25) were done to death by Natu Rathwa, Tetiya Rathwa, Mangudia Rathwa and Angudiya Rathwa here at Nalej village on Wednesday. The incident reportedly took place at around 1 am. The victims were hit by clubs. They received serious head injuries and succumbed to it on the spot. One Balsingh Rathwa was also seriously injured in the assault.

Police said the root of the double murder was Tetiya Rathwa's suspicion that Variya Rathwa was having an affair with his sister-in- law. Chhota Udepur PSI M N Pandya is investigating the case.

The second murder case was reported in Naswadi where a youth killed his elder brother over a land dispute case. The victim, Rama Bhil, was hit with an axe by his younger brother, Khatriya Bhil, at Nishan Village of Naswadi. Rama died on the spot. Khatriya escaped after committing the murder and is absconding.

PSI V S Waghela is investigating the case.

Witch doctor's bail plea rejected: Additional sessions court here rejected the bail application of witch doctor Gopal Mali on Wednesday.

Mali is accused of killing 15-year-old Kalpesh Solanki by branding him with a hot iron rod. District government pleader and incharge public prosecutor Raghuveer Pandya argued that Mali had the knowledge that the boy would receive injuries if branded with the iron rod. Pandya also argued that Mali had tortured Solanki 14 times. Pandya referred to the postmortem report which showed that Solanki had received multiple fractures on his skull, near earlobes, hands and thigh region.

The additional sessions judge after hearing the argument rejected Mali's bail plea.