Gandhinagar, Sep 23 (NationPress) The police in Ahmedabad have apprehended the main suspect in the gruesome murder of 24-year-old Vaibhav Manwani, who tragically lost his life near the Ambapur canal in Adalaj, Gandhinagar, during his birthday festivities last week, authorities confirmed.

His girlfriend, Aastha Hariyani, who suffered multiple stab wounds, continues to receive medical treatment.

The suspect, identified as Vipul, also referred to as Vimal or Neel Parmar, was captured by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch.

This arrest followed a two-day, extensive manhunt involving multiple agencies, including the Gandhinagar local Crime Branch, Special Operations Group, and the Ahmedabad Anti-Terrorist Squad.

The accused has a criminal history, with past charges in two murder cases and numerous thefts, according to police reports.

Vaibhav, an Ahmedabad resident, was assaulted shortly after 1:30 a.m. on September 20, as he and Aastha parked their vehicle near the canal bridge after celebrating with friends.

An assailant opened the car's back door, demanded money and jewelry, and fatally stabbed Vaibhav — at least 12 times in the head, chest, and shoulders — when he resisted.

Aastha, who attempted to defend Vaibhav, sustained injuries to her neck and hand.

CCTV footage captured the suspect near the crime scene on a motorcycle around 1 a.m., with him departing at 2:30 a.m. on the same date.

Forensic teams later collected biological samples and additional evidence from the site.

A senior police official stated, "Technical surveillance and CCTV evidence played a crucial role in identifying the suspect, who was subsequently located and arrested." Interrogations are ongoing to ascertain whether other individuals were involved.

Authorities indicated that Aastha's account, once she is able to provide a comprehensive statement, will be vital in verifying the sequence of events.

Community members are calling for enhanced nighttime patrols in isolated areas surrounding the canal.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Gujarat has seen a consistent decrease in its crime rate over recent years, particularly in serious offenses such as murder, attempted murder, and robbery.

The Gujarat government reported a drop in the crime rate for major offenses to 11.9 per 100,000 people in 2021, significantly lower than the national average of 30.2.

Additionally, crimes against women have decreased from approximately 27.10 per lakh population in 2019 to around 22.90 per lakh in 2022.