District Superintendent of Police, Dahod, KLN Rao, said that two of the accused had been identified as Kalu Rathwa and his brother Hansu, both residents of a village under Joj police outpost of Chhotaudepur police station.

Their houses were raided last night but they could not be apprehended, and are said to have escaped to their relatives in Madhya Pradesh. Thirty-two-year-old Ralubhai is survived by his wife, two daughters and two sons. The eldest child is 10 years old.

Ralubhai, who joined the police 10 years ago, had faced violence several times in the course of duty. He was assaulted in Devgarh Baria town a year ago when he attempted to seize stolen cattle from some people. A case of attempt to murder was registered in that connection, but no one was arrested.

Earlier this year, a mob at the Devgarh Baria bus station set upon him when he tried to prevent them from setting ST buses afire and damaging government property. The mob had gone on rampage after a boy's death in a road mishap involving an ST bus.Ralubhai's body was cremated at Gundikhera with full police honours. This followed the post-mortem examination at Dahod civil hospital.