Earlier this year, Tinabhai, business partner of city builder and Congress corporator Shailesh Sotta, was killed by Raju Rohida in an attack on Sotta.

Meghwani, who ran a provision store and also dealt in real estate, was killed allegedly by a builder from the Warasia area and three associates on a culvert near his residence.

Complainant and eyewitness Rameshbhai Meghwani, brother of the deceased, alleged that four persons -- Daulat Tekchand, his son Mukesh, builder Ishwar Jagyasi and Vallabh Shah, photographer with a local vernacular daily -- attacked Bhagwandas with swords, knives and daggers at around 11 p.m. The victim, he said, was on his way to a telephone booth. Ramesh, who was taking his habitual post-dinner walk, said he saw the entire incident.

In his complaint, Ramesh also alleged that his brother was killed because of his stand against Jagyasi on the issue of illegal construction in warasia.

The enmity seems to have had other causes. Ramesh told Express Newsline that his brother had been threatened by Jagyasi and his men after Bhagwandas appeared as a witness last May in the kidnapping case of Govindram. Daulat and Mukesh had been named as kidnappers by Kavitaben, Govindram's wife.

In fact, the trail goes back even farther; Govindram is alleged to have been kidnapped for testifying against Daulat and Mukesh in yet another case of kidnapping.

Ramesh said Bhagwandas had written to Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya and Commissioner of Police J Mahapatra on June 10, but no action appears to have been taken. Mahapatra said he received the letter and marked it to the area police for action. ``I am yet to find out if the local police took any preventive action in the matter'', he replied when questioned.

City police say Daulat and Mukesh have a record of criminal activities. They were named as accused in a looting case; Govindram testified in that case on May 18, was allegedly attacked by Daulat and Mukesh the same night and kidnapped the next day. A case of kidnapping is pending against the two in the City Police Station. Deceased Meghwani was the witness in this kidnap case.

Daulat and Mukesh were also alleged to have kidnapped Super Bread proprietor Prakash Ahuja from Subhash Park on March 24, 1998. Daulat was subsequently arrested and sent to jail; he was released on bail after three months.