According to Jameel's complaint, three people entered the compound of the well-known J B Diamonds compound -- the unit was closed for the festive season -- around 10.30 pm. A pack of watch-dogs immediately charged at them, following which he fired a single round from his 12-bore licensed rifle. The Varachha police said the bullet passed through the chest of one and the abdomen of a second, before lodging itself in the stomach of the third. The first two -- identified as Satish and Arjun and aged between 20 and 25 -- were declared dead on arrival at the New Civil Hospital, while the injured, one Salaam Ballu Patel of Vadodara, was stated to be out of danger.

Patel and his two accomplices have been booked for robbery, while Jameel has been charged with murder under Section 302 of the IPC. However, the watchman has not been arrested yet, though he has been detained for questioning.

While Jameel alleged that the three people tried to break into the unit because there were polished and rough diamonds worth lakhs of rupees in the premises, Patel said they were just standing at the rear gate of the unit, on Lambe Hanuman Road.