In a deeply disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves across the national capital, 19-year-old Neha lost her life after allegedly being pushed off the rooftop of a five-storey building by 30-year-old Taufiq-ur-Rehman, a man she had once tied rakhi to, believing him to be like a brother.
The incident occurred around 8:30 AM on June 23 in the Ashok Nagar area of northeast Delhi. According to police and eyewitness accounts, Neha had gone to the terrace to turn on the water pump when Taufiq, disguised in a burqa, entered the premises, followed her to the rooftop, and pushed her off. She fell nearly 50 feet onto a heap of bricks in a vacant plot below.
She was rushed to Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital but succumbed to her injuries. Her grieving father, Surender Kumar, broke down outside the mortuary: “All we want is justice for our daughter. We had just begun to see hope, she had started working to support the family, and I had recently joined a factory job. We never imagined this nightmare.”
Narrating the horror, Neha’s father recalled: “I was doing chores downstairs when I heard Neha scream. I rushed up and saw Taufiq attacking her. I tried to save her, but he threw me down. My arm was in severe pain — I couldn’t even get up to help her. Then he pushed her off the rooftop in front of my eyes.”
Taufiq fled the scene before neighbours could catch him. Many residents shouted and chased after him, but he escaped through the narrow lanes of the locality.
The victim’s family revealed that Taufiq had been known to them for several years. Neha and her sisters had tied rakhi on him during past Rakshabandhan festivals. “We treated him like family,” said Neha’s elder sister. “He said he had no real sister, and we never questioned it. We never imagined that he would misuse our trust in such a horrific way.”
According to family members, Taufiq’s behaviour changed drastically after Neha found out that he had lied about not having a sister. When she stopped speaking to him, he began to harass her — calling her workplace repeatedly and showing up uninvited.
Her mother added, “Just a week ago, he threatened her. He told her, ‘Main tujhe kahin ka nahi chhodunga (I will ruin you completely).’ We had told him to behave like a brother. But he clearly had other intentions.”
The morning of the incident, Neha had asked her mother to turn on the water pump. Just moments later, the family heard a commotion and saw Taufiq fleeing in a burqa. The brutal betrayal has left the family shattered and the neighbourhood stunned.
The killing has triggered massive unrest in Ashok Nagar. On June 24, the Ashok Vihar market remained completely shut as a mark of protest. “We held a meeting and decided to close the market in solidarity with Neha’s family,” said Satendra Sharma, general secretary of the Agrasen Market Association. He also mentioned that many shopkeepers have resolved not to hire Muslim workers in the future, reflecting the volatile communal tension in the area.
Members of right-wing groups also gathered near Neha’s residence, demanding justice and severe punishment for the accused.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police launched a multi-state manhunt and finally arrested Taufiq from the Tanda area of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh. His location was traced using CCTV footage and other leads. He hails from Hapur and worked as a daily wage labourer in Ashok Nagar’s market area.
Neha’s aunt has demanded the death penalty for the accused: “Had we known what was in his mind, we would never have let him near her. He deserves the strictest punishment.”
The Delhi Police are now investigating the case under charges of murder and criminal trespassing. Authorities have also stated they will examine whether charges under stalking and premeditated intent apply.
