New Delhi: In a chilling double murder case, a 24-year-old man has been arrested for killing a woman and a six-month-old child in Delhi’s Majnu Ka Tilla locality. The accused, identified as Nikhil, a native of Uttarakhand, was apprehended in Haldwani on Wednesday following a multi-state police manhunt.
Murders committed with surgical blade
The victims have been identified as Sonal (22) and the infant daughter of her friend Rashmi. According to police, the murders occurred on Tuesday afternoon when Nikhil entered the house in Rashmi’s absence and killed both victims using a surgical blade. He then fled, ditching his phone to evade tracking, and attempted suicide before travelling across cities.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Raja Banthia confirmed the arrest and revealed that Nikhil confessed during interrogation. “He had a personal grudge, arising from past relationship troubles and jealousy,” said the officer.
A relationship that turned violent
Nikhil and Sonal met during an event in Haldwani in 2023. The relationship quickly turned live-in, and Sonal became pregnant later that year. According to police, the financially struggling couple allegedly sold the child for ₹2 lakh in Almora after failing to go through with an abortion. With the money, they shifted to Delhi, initially residing in Wazirabad before moving to Majnu Ka Tilla.
In Delhi, Sonal became friends with Rashmi, a local resident. Frequent fights between the couple led Sonal to leave Nikhil and move in with Rashmi’s family.
Jealousy and a second pregnancy
Nikhil suspected Sonal was romantically involved with Rashmi’s husband, Durgesh. He reportedly found WhatsApp chats between the two and confronted Sonal multiple times. Meanwhile, Sonal became pregnant again. Nikhil wanted to keep the child, but she had an abortion without informing him, allegedly influenced by Durgesh. Police say this intensified Nikhil’s resentment and feelings of betrayal.
The day of the murders
On July 9, around 1 p.m., Rashmi and Durgesh stepped out to pick up their older daughter from school. Sonal stayed at home with Rashmi’s six-month-old daughter. Police say Nikhil, carrying a surgical blade, took advantage of their absence to enter the house.
An argument reportedly ensued. In a fit of rage, Nikhil taped the mouths of Sonal and the infant to prevent noise, slit Sonal’s throat, and beheaded the child, reportedly in revenge for the abortion of his own unborn child.
“He put strips of tape on the mouths of the woman and the child to ensure that nobody heard their cries. He then slit the woman’s throat and beheaded the child,” said Ravi, the infant’s uncle, to news agency PTI.
Multi-city manhunt and arrest
After committing the crime, Nikhil returned to his residence and tried to take his own life. When that failed, he fled to Old Delhi Railway Station, then to Bareilly, and eventually reached Haldwani, where he took shelter in a friend’s house. The friend, who was associated with Nikhil’s sister, later informed police.
Though Nikhil initially escaped before the police could reach the house, he returned the next morning and was arrested. He confessed to the crime during interrogation.
Public outrage and police response
The heinous nature of the crime has sparked public outrage. Locals and family members are demanding strictest punishment. The police said that a detailed investigation is ongoing and that sections for murder and criminal conspiracy have been invoked.