The Gujarat Police have arrested a 29-year-old serial killer, Rahul Singh Jat, from Haryana for the rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl in Valsad district. The arrest was made on November 24 at Vapi railway station after a detailed investigation into the teen’s death. The girl’s body was found near railway tracks close to Udvada station on November 14.

According to the police, the victim was attacked from behind, raped, and murdered while she was returning home from her tuition class. Valsad Superintendent of Police (SP) Karanraj Vaghela said a t-shirt and bag left at the crime scene helped investigators identify the suspect. CCTV footage provided a clear image of the man, later identified by officials as Rahul Jat, a native of Rohtak, Haryana.

Serial killer’s trail of crimes

Jat has been linked to several violent crimes, including the murder of four people on trains in different states. Police revealed that he looted and killed a woman near Secunderabad railway station in Telangana just a day before his arrest. In October, he raped and murdered a woman on a train near Solapur station in Maharashtra. He also stabbed an elderly man to death on a train near Howrah railway station in West Bengal. Another passenger was murdered on a train in Mulki, Karnataka.

SP Vaghela explained that Jat often targeted people travelling alone and committed his crimes in railway coaches meant for differently-abled passengers. He was difficult to track as he constantly changed locations and slept at railway stations or on trains.

Jat was caught after a massive search operation involving police units from Haryana, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. Over 2,000 CCTV cameras in Vapi, Valsad, Surat, and Udvada were reviewed to locate him. The joint efforts of local and railway police led to his arrest in Vapi.

Police found that Jat had been travelling frequently to Gujarat over the past year, visiting cities like Surat, Valsad, and Vapi. During his latest visit, he raped and murdered the 19-year-old girl while also collecting his salary from a hotel where he had worked.

Crime history

Jat’s criminal record dates back to his childhood, with over a dozen cases registered against him in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. He has been involved in theft, truck hijacking, and smuggling illegal weapons. His family had severed ties with him due to his criminal behaviour.

Jat confessed during interrogation to committing five murders in a single month. He had previously been jailed in 2018-19 and again in 2024 for crimes involving truck theft and illegal arms smuggling. After his recent release, he committed the murder of the Valsad teenager.

SP Vaghela called Jat’s arrest a major achievement for the Valsad Police. During questioning, Jat confessed to additional murders, shedding light on his brutal crimes across India.

Jat, who studied only up to Class 5, is now in police custody. The authorities are continuing their investigation to uncover more details about his crimes and ensure justice for his victims.