Delhi horror: Woman, witness to husbands murder in 2023, shot dead

2026-01-11

NEW DELHI: Less than three years after a history-sheeter was shot dead in a personal rivalry, his wife was killed in almost exactly the same way in Shalimar Bagh, northwest Delhi, Saturday. Cops suspect one of the two bike-borne assailants was a suspect in the husband’s murder too.

Rachna, 52, was one of the witnesses in the murder of her husband, Bijender Yadav. “About one-and-a-half years ago, she was followed and threatened on way to court, after which she began attending hearings on video,” said Kanika, 32, her elder daughter.

Some of the accused in my father’s murder are lodged in Tihar Jail. Despite that, such crimes are happening. This is shocking,” Kanika said.

Rachna was returning after attending last rites at a neighbour’s house, and stopped at a shack near her home to wash her hands and feet when she was attacked, family members said. The shooters were lying in wait, and shot her at point-blank range, killing her on the spot.

In May 2023, Bijender too was shot dead from a close range when he was sitting outside a bakery with friends in Bhalswa village. Around six rounds were fired then.

A property dealer, Bijender had at least nine criminal cases against him, including murder and under the Arms Act, and was believed to have been killed by his rivals The family claimed that a few months after his killing, unidentified men opened fire at their office in Bhalswa village in an attempt to intimidate the family. The main accused in that case, Bharat Yadav, who is absconding, is believed to be behind Rachna’s killing too. A masked man has been spotted in CCTV footage near the murder spot.

Around a dozen teams have been formed to nab the accused. Police are conducting raids in Haryana and outer Delhi to identify and nab the suspects.

Police said they received a PCR call regarding the incident around 11am. An empty cartridge was recovered from the scene, and the crime and forensic teams were called in to examine the area.

Residents said a security guard was posted at the gate near the spot only at night, since the police post is nearby. Police are examining CCTV footage from cameras installed at the victim’s house and in the surrounding area to trace the movements of the shooter.