SURAT: Rahul alias Bholu Jat, a serial killer accused of murdering five people across different states, took to crime with vehicle thefts, primarily targeting trucks.
The Valsad police arrested Jat last week for allegedly raping and murdering a 19-year-old girl near Udvada railway station on November 14. Investigations revealed that the Haryana native, a school dropout after class V, started as a truck cleaner at 20. He ventured into truck theft to prove he could drive, despite being denied the opportunity due to polio in his left leg.
Jat’s father, a truck driver, passed away in 2019. “Such was his desperation to drive trucks that he even begged one driver to let him, but in vain. He admitted to stealing trucks to prove his capability,” said an officer from the Valsad police.
Since 2015, Jat has been involved in 13 truck thefts. His first recorded offence was at Kalanaur police station in Haryana, where he abandoned a truck near Mathura when it ran out of fuel—a stark contrast to professional thieves who sell stolen vehicles. “He typically targeted trucks parked near dhabas or restaurants, often those with keys left inside,” said A.K. Varma, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Valsad.
Jat’s family, residing in their farmland home in Mokhra Khas Pana Shyam village, Rohtak, severed ties with him due to his criminal tendencies. His younger brother works in a private bank, and his mother also distanced herself from him.
Incidentally, police identified Jat through CCTV footage at Vapi railway station, noting his limp. Officials from Surat’s Lajpore Central Jail and Rajasthan police confirmed his identity based on his left leg condition.
“Jat’s inclination towards theft and his addiction to drugs and liquor alienated him from his family. This is likely why he could not pursue further education,” added a police officer. Jat confessed to leading a nomadic lifestyle, avoiding any ties with his family or home.
