Mother travels 1,000 km with daughter’s ashes:Alleges son-in-law pushed her before train in Gujarat; seeks justice

After her daughter’s suspicious death in a train incident in Gujarat’s Valsad, an elderly woman travelled nearly 1,000 km to Jabalpur carrying her ashes and approached the police on Saturday, alleging that the death was not an accident but a murder. The woman accused her son-in-law of pushing her daughter in front of a train, attempting to snatch away the ashes and threatening to kill her two children. Taking note of the allegations, Jabalpur police have assured cooperation with Gujarat Police in the investigation. Married in 2014, moved to Gujarat for work Pinky Namdev, a resident of Pauda village in Jabalpur district, met Mahendra Namdev, a resident of Bahoriband in Katni district. Belonging to the same community, the two married in 2014 with their families’ consent. After marriage, they worked as tailors and later moved to Valsad in Gujarat in 2018 in search of better employment, where both found jobs in a company. For some time, their life remained stable, but later Mahendra allegedly became addicted to alcohol and started assaulting his wife and children. The couple have two children – son Kanha (10) and daughter Avni (8). Returned to parental home with children According to Pinky’s mother, Laxmi Namdev, Mahendra assaulted Pinky in front of their children on 5 June 2026. Distressed by the incident, Pinky returned to her maternal home in Jabalpur with the children. She reportedly told her mother that her husband regularly consumed alcohol and assaulted her, making it impossible to continue living with him. Around 15 days later, Mahendra came to Jabalpur seeking reconciliation and apologised, asking her to return with him, but Pinky refused. Meanwhile, the children had already secured admission to a Navodaya school in Gujarat. After repeated calls from the school, Pinky returned to Valsad with her children and mother, but chose to stay separately in a rented accommodation. Allegation of dragging her from company gate to railway track Laxmi Namdev alleged that on the evening of 30 June 2026, at around 7 pm, Pinky had just finished work and stepped out of the company premises when Mahendra arrived. She alleged that he assaulted Pinky at the company gate and forcibly took her towards the railway tracks, where he pushed her in front of a moving train. The family claims it could not have been a suicide because body parts were found scattered at different locations along the railway track. Family searched through the night Laxmi said Pinky did not return home that night, prompting the family to contact the company and acquaintances, but no information was found. When she called Mahendra, he reportedly claimed ignorance and later switched off his phone. The following morning, Mahendra informed the family that Pinky’s body was lying on the railway tracks. Laxmi rushed to the spot and identified her daughter’s body. Vasi Town Police conducted the necessary proceedings and handed over the body to the family. The last rites were performed in Valsad on 2 July. Mother seeks protection after returning with ashes On 4 July, Laxmi returned to Jabalpur carrying her daughter’s ashes along with the two children. Fearing that Mahendra or his relatives might attempt to seize the ashes, she went directly from the railway station to the Superintendent of Police’s office and submitted a complaint. Later in the evening, Pinky’s ashes were immersed in the Narmada River at Khari Ghat by her grandson Kanha. Police begin inquiry Jabalpur police said they have received the complaint and are coordinating with Gujarat Police. The entire sequence of events will be examined on the basis of available evidence. Officials said that if the investigation uncovers evidence of murder or any other offence, appropriate legal action will be initiated against those responsible.