A man in Gujarat's Surat city deliberately severed four fingers from his left hand to render himself unfit for his role as a computer operator in his relative’s diamond firm, police revealed on Saturday.
The man, identified as 32-year-old Mayur Tarapara, initially claimed he lost his fingers in mysterious circumstances. He told police that he had fainted by the roadside near Vedanta Circle in Amroli while riding his motorcycle on December 8. Upon regaining consciousness, he said, four of his fingers were missing. His explanation fueled initial suspicions of foul play, with police speculating the incident could be linked to black magic.
However, an investigation by the Surat Crime Branch uncovered that the injuries were self-inflicted. CCTV footage and technical surveillance led investigators to the truth. Tarapara had deliberately cut off his own fingers to avoid continuing his work at Anabh Gems, a diamond firm in Varachha Mini Bazaar owned by a relative.
According to a statement from the crime branch, Tarapara lacked the courage to express his desire to leave the job. Instead, he purchased a sharp knife from a shop near Char Rasta in Singanpore. Four days later, on December 10, he parked his motorcycle at Amroli Ring Road, used the knife to sever four fingers, and tied a rope around his elbow to stem the blood flow. He then discarded the knife and the severed fingers in separate bags.
Friends who found him later took him to the hospital. During the investigation, police recovered three of the severed fingers and the knife.