Jaipur, Nov 12: Police on Thursday arrested four men in connection with the murder of history-sheeter Vijay Bajiya, 25, who was chased and hacked to death with an axe in the Kardhani police station area of Jaipur on Wednesday night, officials said.

The arrested accused were identified as Anish Golya alias Jaggu (21), Kamlesh Golya alias Kamal (23), Yuvraj Chaudhary (23) and Dinesh Chaudhary alias Deenu (23), all residents of Jobner. Kardhani police station SHO Sawai Singh said the four were hiding in the Kardhani area after the crime and were arrested on Thursday; further investigation is underway.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Prashant Kiran said prime accused Anish Golya had allegedly plotted the killing to avenge the murder of his father, Kailash Golya, in 2019, which police say was carried out by Vijay and his associates and triggered a long-standing rivalry between the two groups. According to police, the accused had bought an axe a day before the murder and planned the attack after an argument between Anish and Vijay on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, at nearly 8 pm, the four accused allegedly pursued Vijay's Fortuner SUV in a camper vehicle and rammed it near Jagdamba Nagar in the Kardhani area. The collision damaged the SUV, forcing Vijay to get out and run; police said the assailants chased him and struck him repeatedly with an axe and sticks. He was taken to Kanwatia Hospital, where he was declared dead.

Police said Vijay, a resident of Tibariyan village in Jobner, was a history-sheeter at the Jobner police station with several criminal cases registered against him, including two murder cases, and had survived three to four previous attacks linked to the rivalry. He had been living in a rented flat in the Kalwar area and was engaged in the property business, investigators said.