As New Delhi, India bids farewell to 2023, the nation grapples with the aftermath of a series of murders that have left a lasting impact on the collective conscience. These chilling tales unfolded over the year, revealing the dark underbelly of human nature and transcending regional boundaries.
One of the most haunting cases of the year was the murder of 23-year-old Nikki Yadav, allegedly killed by her 24-year-old boyfriend Sahil Gehlot. After a heated argument, he used a charging cable to end her life before stuffing her body into a refrigerator in his family’s dhaba in southwest Delhi’s Najafgarh.
In another tragic incident, 27-year-old Shraddha Walkar was murdered by her 28-year-old live-in partner, Aaftab Amin Poonawala. He strangled her over an argument and dismembered her body into 35 pieces, preserving them in a refrigerator before disposing of them in the forests of south Delhi’s Chhatarpur.
The year also saw the tragic death of 20-year-old Anjali Singh, who was allegedly hit and dragged for several kilometers by a car driven by five youths in Outer Delhi’s Kanjhawala area, shaking the community to its core.
Additionally, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were shot by three men near a medical college in Prayagraj in April, adding to the string of horrifying incidents.
Finally, Indian teenager Sakshi Reddy was allegedly killed after being stabbed multiple times and having her head crushed with a boulder by a 20-year-old man named Sahil in New Delhi’s Shahbad Dairy area, following a heated quarrel.
These stories underscore the challenges faced by society in ensuring safety and justice for its citizens, and serve as a chilling reminder of the grim realities that can unfold within our communities.