A 20-year-old college student was shot and killed on Monday by her stalker and her friend after a failed kidnapping attempt outside their university in Ballabhgarh, Haryana, police said, in a chilling incident that sent shockwaves throughout the state and provoked protests from her. classmates.
Images of the two suspects – officials said one of them has political connections – were captured on CCTV footage of the murder in broad daylight; the duo were arrested in Nuh on Tuesday after a massive search operation, according to police.
Monday afternoon, Touseef Ahmad, A resident of Kabeer Nagar in Sohna, and his friend, Rehaan (who has only one name), a resident of Riwasan in Nuh, arrived in a Hyundai i20 and tried to force Nikita Tomar, a B Com senior, to the vehicle when it left Aggarwal College after taking an exam, police added.
After her attempt failed, Touseef chased after her and shot her in the head from a short distance around 3.48pm, even as people passed by, the video showed. The suspects escaped from the crime scene, leaving Tomar, who was accompanied by a friend, in a pool of blood. She was rushed to a government hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The woman’s family said Touseef, who according to district officials is the son of a former legislator, had been harassing her for the past two years and asking her to marry him, adding that he had also persuaded her to convert to the Islam.
Police identified the suspects, tracked their mobile phones and traced them to Nuh. They are both third-year physical therapy students at Gurugram University.
Faridabad Police Commissioner OP Singh said the suspects were arrested after a five-hour search operation. “After the murder, they fled to Nuh and did not reveal the incident to their relatives. Their mobile phones were traced to different towns and they were arrested, ”he said.
Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar said he asked the police to register the suspects in all relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and ensure that they received the maximum punishment for the crime.
State Interior Minister Anil Vij said the murder weapon (a domestically made pistol) was recovered. “A special investigation team (SIT) has been formed; It is led by Anil Kumar, the deputy police commissioner (crime) who would ensure a swift investigation to ensure justice for the victim’s family, ”he said.
Anil Yadav, Faridabad Police Deputy Commissioner (Crime), said that a case under section 302 (murder) and the relevant sections of the Gun Law was registered at the Ballabhgarh city police station.
“The brother of the deceased, Naveen Tomar, told the police in a statement that the main defendant (Touseef) was known to his sister and had been harassing her; He was forcing her to convert to Islam. The brother filed a complaint against him a few months ago for sexual harassment and abuse, but a compromise was reached ”.
However, that was not the first complaint.
“A kidnapping incident was reported on August 3, 2018, against the suspect, and the victim was recovered from Nuh … after his relatives and relatives apologized, the families reached an agreement … Touseef was warned that this incident not be repeated, “he said. additional.
According to the police, the woman wrote to officials after returning from Nuh in 2018, saying that she went there with her friends and that she could not inform her parents before leaving, in what she called a misunderstanding.
Police said the woman and Touseef were at the same school, he was their senior, and that she had rejected his advances since 2018.
The incident sparked protests and students and local residents blocked the Sohna-Ballabgarh highway for several hours on Tuesday.
District administration officials, who did not want to be named, said Touseef is the son of a former congressman from Nuh.
But Nikita Arora, a spokesman for the Haryana Congress, denied any link between the suspect and the party.
“The slogans of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (a central government campaign)” are hollow and the government has not guaranteed the safety of women. The accused has no relationship with the Congress party, ”said Arora.
The chief congressional spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala, also criticized the Khattar government for the law and order situation in the state.
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