The accused, Pawan, killed 16-year-old Khushnuma after months of harassment and threats
Team Clarion
FARIDABAD – In a heartbreaking incident from Dabua Colony in this city in Haryana, a 16-year-old Muslim girl, Khushnuma, was brutally murdered by a man who had previously kidnapped her. On January 18, Pawan allegedly entered her house and stabbed her multiple times, fatally injuring her in the neck and mouth. The gruesome attack is said to be the culmination of months of harassment, as Pawan had been pressuring Khushnuma to marry him.
The girl’s family revealed that Pawan had abducted Khushnuma nearly nine months ago. Following the kidnapping, a case was filed against him by Khushnuma’s mother. The police acted swiftly, arresting Pawan and recovering Khushnuma in April 2024. After the incident, Pawan was jailed, but his release only intensified his threats against the young girl. Despite the police’s efforts, he continued to harass and threaten to kill her.
Abhishek, a local, shared details about the family’s torment. “Khushnuma was the eldest of three siblings. Pawan had been pressurising her for marriage for a long time. She repeatedly refused, but he kept threatening her,” he said. “The family knew about the harassment, but despite their best efforts, the tragedy unfolded.”
The police spokesperson, Yashpal, confirmed that the accused had first kidnapped Khushnuma in April 2024, luring her with promises of marriage. “The girl’s mother had filed a complaint, and we took swift action to recover her and arrest Pawan. The girl had confessed that Pawan had lured her away promising marriage,” Yashpal explained.
After Pawan’s release from jail, he continued his threats, ultimately leading to the tragic murder. Upon hearing of the incident, the police rushed to the scene, took the body into custody, and sent it for a post-mortem examination at Badshah Khan Civil Hospital. Authorities are currently searching for the accused, who remains on the run.
The community and family are left in shock, mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon due to relentless harassment and violence. The case has sparked an outpouring of support for the victim’s family and raised questions about the legal system’s ability to protect women from such violent acts.