On May 18, 2022, 27-year-old Shraddha Walker was brutally murdered and chopped into pieces by her live-in partner, 28-year-old Aftab Poonawala. The nation was shocked as details emerged about how Shraddha, who had moved in with Aftab after leaving her family, was strangled, chopped into 35 pieces, and stored in a 300-liter refrigerator. Over the next 18 days, Aftab disposed of the pieces in the Chhatarpur forest at around 2 AM each night to avoid suspicion.
The gruesome murder came to light nearly six months later, when Shraddha’s father filed a missing persons complaint after her friends reported they had been unable to contact her for over two-and-a-half months. Aftab Poonawala was arrested by the Delhi Police on November 12, 2022, and subsequent searches led to the discovery of many of Shraddha’s body parts in a nearby forest.
Two years have passed, and Aftab Poonawala remains in jail. The case sparked outrage on social media and in the streets, with activists highlighting a perceived pattern of violence in interfaith relationships involving Hindu women and Muslim men. This particular case, due to its brutality, brought significant attention to the issue, prompting discussions that had previously been overlooked.
Two years after Shraddha’s brutal killing, let us take you through 10 similar cases where Hindu partners were murdered by their Muslim counterparts.
Neha Hiremath killed by Fayaz
On April 18, 2024, Neha Hiremath, the daughter of a Congress Corporator, was killed by her former classmate, Fayaz, on the campus of B V Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology in Hubballi, Karnataka. Neha, a first-year MCA student, was attacked by Fayaz, a former BCA student from the same college who had discontinued his studies. Fayaz, from Savadatti in Belagavi district, waited for Neha outside the college and attacked her with a knife, stabbing her multiple times in the neck. The incident, caught on CCTV, showed Fayaz confronting and stabbing Neha before fleeing the scene. Despite being rushed to KIMS Hospital by fellow students, Neha succumbed to her injuries.
Fayaz had been persistently pestering Neha to enter into a relationship, which she continuously refused. Enraged by her rejection, he planned and executed the attack. Fayaz was later arrested, and the police confirmed that his intention was to kill her, as evidenced by his statements to friends and the nature of the attack.
Dildar Ansari chopped Rubika into over 50 pieces
In a horrifying case of grooming and murder, 22-year-old Rubika Pahadin was killed by Dildar Ansari and his family in Borio Santhali village, Sahibganj district, Jharkhand on December 18, 2022.
Dildar, a scrap dealer, was already married to a Muslim woman named Gulera but pretended to be single to groom Rubika for two years, eventually entering a live-in relationship and marrying her a month ago. Once Rubika discovered his existing marriage, frequent conflicts arose, exacerbated by his family’s disapproval and Gulera’s instigations.
Dildar’s mother, Maryam, took Rubika to her brother Moinul Ansari’s house, where Dildar and family members brutally murdered her, dismembering her body into 50 pieces with an electric cutter. They then filed a missing person report to avoid suspicion.
The crime came to light when villagers found body parts being eaten by stray dogs. Police, led by Superintendent Anuranjan Kispotta, discovered more mutilated remains in Santhali Momin Tola area. So far, 18 body pieces have been recovered, though the head is still missing.
Nine family members, including Dildar, his parents, first wife, siblings, and their spouses, have been arrested or detained. Moinul Ansari remains at large, believed to be in Delhi. Two sharp-edged weapons used in the murder were recovered from his house.
Nizam chopped Poonam into pieces
The peaceful town of Uran in Navi Mumbai was shaken by the discovery of a woman’s dismembered body wrapped in a blanket. The victim, 27-year-old Poonam Kshirsagar, had been in a four-year relationship with a man named Nizam, a taxi driver.
On April 18, 2024, Nizam reportedly picked up Poonam from Mankhurd and took her to Khadavli in Thane district. She tragically died on April 19, and her body was abandoned at Talekhar along Chirner-Kharpada in Uran. Locals discovered her decomposed remains on April 25.
Poonam’s identity was confirmed after her family filed a missing person report on April 19, prompting an investigation that led to Nizam’s arrest. Poonam had recently learned that Nizam was already married with a child, which led to a confrontation and subsequently, her death.
The body of the girl recovered in polythene bags in Geeta Colony
On July 11, 2023, Delhi police discovered body parts of a woman in a plastic bag near the Geeta Colony flyover in the Yamuna Khadar area. This gruesome find has revived memories of the Shraddha Walker case from last year.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sagar Singh Kalsi stated, “Prima facie, it is a body of a person around 35 to 40 years old.” Joint CP, Central Range, Paramaditya, told ANI, “Two black polythene bags were found—one containing the head and the other, other body parts. Based on the long hair, we assume it is a woman. Identification is pending, and the investigation is underway.”
A case has been registered at the Kotwali police station, and forensic experts are actively working at the crime scene. “Ortho forensics will confirm the gender of the deceased, and a search for additional evidence is ongoing,” added Kalsi.
Ehsaan killed Archna and dumped her body in two separate wells
In a shocking incident reminiscent of the notorious Shraddha Walker murder case, the state of Jharkhand was rocked by the brutal killing of 21-year-old Archna Kandulna in December 2023. The victim’s body parts were found in separate wells, with her torso in one and her head in another. The alleged perpetrator, identified as her lover Mohammad Ehsaan alias Badal, has been arrested in connection with the crime.
The First Information Report (FIR) number 412/2023 was filed at the Gumla police station on December 5, following the discovery of Archna’s body in a well by local residents of Fori village in the Gumla district of Jharkhand. The locals had been alerted by a foul smell emanating from the well.
After retrieving the body, police found the head to be missing and eventually located it in another well nearby. A bag containing an Aadhaar card was also found near the second well, which aided in the identification of the victim as Archna Kandulna, a native of the Rania police station area of Jaipur village in the district.
The police initiated a thorough investigation, which led them to the accused, Mohammad Ehsaan Mirdaha. The Special Team successfully tracked Ehsaan down on December 9 and arrested him. During interrogation, Ehsaan confessed to the crime, claiming that he was driven to commit the heinous act after discovering compromising pictures on Archna’s mobile phone. He alleged that Archna had used these images to blackmail him and had even blocked his number.
Fueled by anger, Ehsaan lured Archna to a local fair (mela) in Fori village under the pretext of a meeting. Once he had gained her trust, he convinced her to undress before attacking her with a sharp object, believed to be a Tangi or axe. He then beheaded Archna and disposed of her torso in one well and her head in another.
Shahbaz stabbed Neelkusum with screwdriver
In a shocking incident that occurred in Korba, Chhattisgarh, a 21-year-old tribal girl named Neelkusum Panna was brutally murdered by her stalker, Shahbaz Khan. The incident took place on December 24, 2022, in the Pump House colony of South Eastern Coalfields Limited, where Neelkusum was alone at the time.
Shahbaz Khan, who had been working as a bus conductor in the region three years prior, had met Neelkusum during his time there and had obtained her mobile number. After moving to Gujarat for work, he tried to maintain contact with Neelkusum, but she ceased communication, which enraged Shahbaz. In a fit of anger, he took a flight from Gujarat to Chhattisgarh and proceeded to murder Neelkusum in her own home.
According to the postmortem report, Neelkusum was stabbed 51 times with a screwdriver, with the majority of the wounds concentrated in her chest and back. The severity of the attack was such that the wound near her heart was the most severe, indicating the brutality of the crime.
The police investigation revealed that Shahbaz Khan had been angered by Neelkusum’s refusal to take his calls and had planned the attack as a result. The authorities arrested Shahbaz Khan along with his aide Tarbez Khan for the heinous crime.
The victim, Neelkusum Panna, was a tribal girl who had converted to Christianity. Her family, including her father Budhram Panna, mother Fuljena Panna, and brother Nitesh Panna, were not at home at the time of the attack.
Shakeel Miyan chopped Neelam in pieces
In a horrifying incident that took place in the bustling market area of Bhagalpur, Bihar, a 42-year-old married woman named Neelam Yadav was brutally murdered in broad daylight on December 3, 2022. The perpetrator, identified as Sheikh Shakeel Miyan, allegedly stabbed and dismembered Neelam Yadav, a resident of Chhoti Deilori, in a fit of rage.
Neelam Yadav was returning home from the market when Shakeel Miyan attacked her, first striking her on the back of the head before stabbing her multiple times in the head, back, and stomach with a sharp weapon. In an act of extreme brutality, he then severed her ears, hands, legs, and breasts before fleeing the scene.
Shakeel Miyan allegedly chopped hands, ears, legs and breast of a 42-year-old woman identified as Neelam Yadav in Bhagalpur, Bihar.
She died in the hospital.
Husband of the deceased, Ashok Yadav told media that they don’t have any past rivalry with the accused. pic.twitter.com/XLzXja0aKK
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) December 4, 2022
Bystanders who witnessed the gruesome attack rushed to Neelam Yadav’s aid, lifting her up and taking her to a nearby sub-divisional hospital. She was later transferred to the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical Hospital, but succumbed to her injuries during treatment. Before her death, Neelam Yadav managed to identify her attacker to those around her.
Upon receiving information about the incident, Neelam Yadav’s husband, Ashok Yadav, and the Pirpainti police station chief, Ramkumar Prasad, were informed. Ramkumar Prasad and his team promptly arrived at the scene and sent Neelam Yadav’s body for a post-mortem examination. A case was registered, and a manhunt was launched to apprehend the perpetrator.
The motive behind the brutal murder was revealed to be Sheikh Shakeel Miyan’s anger over being forbidden from visiting the Yadav household by Neelam Yadav’s husband. The shocking incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the need for stronger measures to ensure the safety of women in public spaces.
Aziz Ahmed killed Mehek Sharma
On September 10, 2023, the lifeless body of a 20-year-old girl named Mehek Sharma was discovered in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. The prime suspect, Aziz Ahmed, was found lying next to her without any apparent injuries, seemingly attempting to stage the incident as an accident.
The victim’s body, bearing severe injuries, was located on the road near a car with registration number AS-06-AH-1143 in the middle of the Dibrugarh bypass. The police discovered the scene at around 4:15 a.m. on September 10.
In addition to Mehek Sharma’s body, Aziz Ahmed was found lying nearby, seemingly unharmed. The car belonged to Aziz, and it is alleged that he was attempting to portray the murder as an accident. Mehek Sharma was a resident of the Khalihamari area in Dibrugarh district, while Aziz Ahmed resided in Maijan, Dibrugarh.
The police investigation revealed that Aziz Ahmed, who is married and has two children, had been pressuring Mehek to marry him for the past six months. On September 9, Aziz took Mehek for a drive around 3:30 p.m., and the two had known each other for some time.
Mehek had been distancing herself from Aziz ever since she learned about his marriage and child. However, Aziz continued to pressure her to maintain their relationship. The two had initially met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in Dibrugarh.
Mehek’s mother, Moushumi Sharma, alleged that her daughter was forcefully taken for the drive by Aziz and that he had murdered her. The police investigation found blood stains inside the car and scratch marks on Aziz Ahmed’s neck, suggesting a struggle.
Although the police initially considered the possibility of an accident, the car was found to be intact with no dents or scratch marks, ruling out this theory.
Noor Hasan slit throat of Savitri with a shaving blade, left body naked
A Hindu woman was brutally murdered by Noor Hasan, who slit her throat with a shaving blade in the Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, according to police reports on May 29, 2023. The victim’s body was discovered naked in a sugarcane field, and it is suspected that she was raped before being killed.
The incident occurred in Kanaura village, and the woman’s husband accused contractor Noor Hasan of the crime. The woman had been working with Noor Hasan, and the police detained him based on suspicion. During preliminary interrogation, Noor Hasan denied any involvement in the murder, but when faced with a more stringent approach, he eventually confessed to his crime.
Abhay Pratap Singh, the Superintendent of Police (SP), revealed that Noor Hasan admitted to killing the woman. The two had been involved in an illicit relationship for the past eight years, as the woman worked as a labourer. Noor Hasan confessed to the police that they had a fight over something, during which he pushed the woman, causing her to hit her head and die. In an attempt to make the murder appear different, he then slit her throat with a shaving blade and disposed of her body in a sugarcane field.
Shahbaz and aide crushed Nancy to death
In September 2023, a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkarnagar lost her life in a tragic accident following an incident of street molestation. The incident, which occurred on September 15, was captured on video and widely circulated on social media.
The video shows a group of boys on motorcycles following two girls on a cycle. As they approach the girls, one of the boys snatches the dupatta of the schoolgirl, causing her to stumble and fall off her cycle. Another motorcyclist then runs over her. Unfortunately, the girl, identified as Nancy Verma, succumbed to her injuries.
Following the incident, the Uttar Pradesh police launched an encounter and apprehended the accused. Some of the accused sustained bullet injuries during the encounter. The Chief Minister of the state, Yogi Adityanath, issued a stern warning, stating that those involved in such activities should be prepared to face severe consequences.
The accused have been identified as Shahbaz son of Jamaal, Arbaz son of Jamaal, and Mohammed Faisal. Shahbaz and Arbaz were responsible for snatching Nancy’s dupatta, while Faizal was the one who drove his bicycle over the minor.
Nancy, a student of class 12, was the daughter of Sabhajeet Verma, who belongs to the backward Kurmi jati. Sabhajeet has shared that Nancy was a bright student who aspired to become a doctor. He has also mentioned that there is another accused, Mohammad Munnu, who is still at large.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of girls in the area, with Sabhajeet stating that the accused were not only harassing Nancy but also other girls from her school. The police have booked the accused under various sections of the IPC and the POCSO Act.
The Ambedkarnagar police released video footage showing the accused limping after being shot during the encounter. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for stricter measures to ensure the safety of women and girls in public spaces.
Shraddha Walker Murder
The details of the gruesome murder committed by Aftab Poonawala left an indelible mark on the collective memory of everyone. Here are 30 points, covering the case from the beginning of the crime to the formal framing of charges against Aftab Poonawala:
- Mumbai-born Shraddha Walker worked in a multinational company’s call centre in Malad. She met Aftab Amin Poonawala on the dating app Bumble in 2019, and they fell in love. Both worked in the same company and began a live-in relationship.
- On November 23, 2020, Shraddha filed a complaint against Aftab at Tulinj Police Station for sexual assault, violence, and threats.
- In 2022, Shraddha and Aftab moved to Delhi, living together in a rented flat in Chhatarpur, Mehrauli. On May 18, 2022, a fight over marriage led to Aftab brutally murdering Shraddha and dismembering her body into 35 pieces.
- Delhi Police arrested Aftab on November 12, 2022. He confessed to killing his live-in partner. He dismembered her body into 35 pieces and disposed of them in Mehrauli’s woods.
- Fights between Aftab and Shraddha were frequent, mainly over marriage, infidelity, cheating, and expenses.
- On May 18, Aftab strangled Shraddha and later chopped her body to conceal the crime.
- Shraddha’s father, unable to contact her, visited Delhi and found their place locked. He registered a missing person report with the police approximately 5 months ago, leading to an investigation.
- Aftab was arrested for killing Shraddha about 5 months after the report was filed.On December 1, 2022, Delhi police took Aftab to Ambedkar Hospital for a narcotics test. The narco test, also known as a truth serum, was intended to further the investigation. Aftab responded to some questions in English during the test. He remained silent on some questions but responded when the team repeated them.
- Aftab Amin Poonawalla, accused in the Shraddha Walker murder case, attempted to deceive Delhi and Mumbai police during the early investigation stages.
- Delhi Police sources revealed that Aaftab watched crime movies and web series like ‘Dexter’ before committing the crime.
- The police solved a six-month-old blind murder case by arresting Aaftab for killing his live-in partner.
- Aaftab chopped Shraddha’s body into 35 pieces, stored them in a refrigerator, and disposed of the parts at different locations over 18 days.
- Shraddha Walker was beaten by her boyfriend in 2020. Fresh photos show Shraddha with bruises and marks on her face. Shraddha was hospitalised in 2020 with severe back pain. On December 3, 2020, she was admitted to Ozone Multispeciality Hospital in Vasai with severe back and spine pain.
- A friend claimed Shraddha had a blood clot on her face and strangulation marks on her neck. Aaftab allegedly beat Shraddha often, with the 2020 assault being one of many.
- A letter allegedly sent by Shraddha on November 23, 2020, accused Aftab of attempted murder and physical assault. Shraddha filed a police complaint in the Vasai police station, Mumbai, against Aftab. She alleged attempted murder and six months of physical assault by Aftab, with his parents aware of the situation.
- Vikas Walker, Shraddha’s father, demanded the death penalty for Aaftab Poonawalla, the accused in her murder. He alleged that the Vasai Police caused him many problems and if they had helped, Shraddha might still be alive.
- Delhi Police assured Vikas’ family that they would get justice.
- On November 10, 2022, Vikas filed a missing person report at Mehrauli Police Station. An FIR was registered, and the investigation led to the discovery that Aftab Amin Poonawala allegedly killed Shraddha in May.
- In the FIR, Vikas mentioned that Shraddha and Aftab met at a call center in Malad, Mumbai, and started dating in 2018.
- Delhi Police found blood stains in Aftab’s kitchen and sent samples for examination.
- Delhi Police recreated the crime scene with Aftab and a mannequin to understand how Shraddha was killed.
- Shraddha’s father revealed that Aftab’s family was hostile towards Shraddha and her family since the beginning.
The police took Aftab to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for investigation. - A 3,000-page draft chargesheet against Aftab has been submitted, containing over 100 witness accounts, forensic evidence, and electronic evidence.
- The chargesheet includes Aftab’s confessions, narcotics test results, and forensic test findings.
- Aftab allegedly killed Shraddha because he was angry over her meeting another man through a dating platform.
- Aftab’s confession reveals that he disposed of Shraddha’s body parts by burning them with petrol and grinding bones in a grinder.
- The couple planned a trip to Uttarakhand to improve their relationship. They travelled to Haridwar, Parvati Valley, Rishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, and Manali. They also visited Chandigarh and met a man named Badri, whom they befriended through the Bumble app.
- On April 15, 2023, a Delhi court reserved its order on framing charges against Aftab Amin Poonawalla.
The matter was postponed to April 29. Shraddha Walker’s father requested the court to hand over her remains for cremation rituals. - A Delhi court framed charges of murder and disappearance of evidence against Aftab Poonawala.
- The prosecution provided sufficient material, and a prima facie case was made out against the accused. The judge stated that a prima facie case was established for the offenses under sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the IPC.
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