The police in Haryana on Monday said that a 21-year-old woman was shot dead outside her college in Faridabad district by two men, The Indian Express reported. State Home Minister Anil Vij said that the police have arrested both the accused, according to ANI.
The incident took place at 3 pm outside Aggarwal College in Ballabgarh. The woman, identified as Nikita Tomar, was a final year BCom student. She was coming out of the college after giving an exam, when the two accused tried to push her into a white-coloured car at gunpoint. A video shows the woman trying to resist their attempts and save herself from being shot. After her refusal, they shot her with a pistol and she succumbed to her injuries during treatment at a hospital.
The accused have been identified as Touseef and Rehan, according to NDTV.
Tomar’s family accused her former classmate of harassing her for several months. In their complaint, her brother said he shot her because he held a grudge against her.
Vij said that the police have recovered the murder weapon. “An SIT [special investigation team] led by ACP [Assistant Commissioner of Police] Crime Anil Kumar will ensure quick probe and a time-bound trial to ensure justice to the family,” he added.
The family alleged the killing was linked to “love jihad”, according to India Today. “Love jihad” is a conspiracy theory espoused by right-wing Hindu activists alleging that Hindu women are forcibly converted by Muslims through marriage. The relatives said they had filed a police complaint against Touseef, the main accused in 2018 but the matter was settled later.
The woman’s mother demanded strong action against the accused, saying that she will not cremate the 21-year-old’s body till the accused is “encountered”.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a group of protestors broke into a shop in the city and created a ruckus. The police managed the pacify the crowd following which they held a demonstration and blocked the road. The family of the woman was also a part of the demonstration. Friends of the woman also held protests outside the college where the 21-year-old studied, demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
The National Commission for Woman said the panel has taken cognisance of the incident and will write to Haryana police chief to catch the other accused.
The police said a first information report has been filed under Sections 302 (murder), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 25 of the Arms Act.
“Crime Branch rounded up the main accused on Monday night after a five-hour long operation that covered Faridabad, Palwal, and Nuh,” Sube Singh, public relations officer of the Faridabad Police told The Indian Express. “He was arrested from Nuh. Further investigations are being conducted in the matter.”
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