In a shocking incident on October 18, 2025, a 22-year-old pregnant woman, Shalini, was stabbed to death by her former live-in partner, 34-year-old Aashu, alias Shailendra, on a busy stretch near Qutub Road, prompting her husband, 23-year-old Aakash, to fatally stab the attacker in self-defence during a desperate struggle. The tragedy unfolded around 10:15 p.m. in full public view, sending waves of panic through the bustling neighbourhood as bystanders witnessed the violent confrontation.
Aakash, who sustained multiple stab wounds while attempting to shield his wife, is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital and is reported to be out of danger, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Nidhin Valsan. Shalini, who was five months pregnant, and Aashu were declared dead on arrival at the facility, with her brother Rohit and local residents rushing all three to medical care.
The altercation erupted as Aakash and Shalini, married with two young children, were en route in an e-rickshaw to visit her mother, Sheila, on Qutub Road. Aashu, a known "bad character" at Nabi Karim Police Station with prior criminal records including assault and extortion, ambushed the couple in a fit of rage. Police investigations reveal that Aashu first lunged at Aakash with a knife but, when dodged, turned his fury on Shalini, inflicting multiple wounds. Aakash intervened heroically, wrestling the weapon away and stabbing Aashu in the ensuing scuffle, which ended with the attacker's death.
The public nature of the attack—on a crowded arterial road linking Paharganj to central Delhi—has heightened community fears, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos amid Diwali Eve preparations. Aashu, who claimed paternity of Shalini's unborn child, had been harbouring resentment since she ended their live-in relationship and reconciled with Aakash two years prior, following marital strains exacerbated by financial woes and family pressures.
This heartbreaking episode underscores the perils of unresolved personal disputes escalating into lethal violence, particularly in densely populated urban pockets like Nabi Karim, where informal settlements and migrant labour communities often grapple with domestic tensions. Shalini's pregnancy adds a layer of profound tragedy, as foetal mortality rates in such assaults hover around 60% in India, per National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2024. Aakash, despite his own minor criminal history involving petty thefts, emerges as a protector in this narrative, though police note his three prior involvements.
The case has been registered under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 109(1) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on Sheila's complaint, with forensic teams analysing the knife and CCTV footage from nearby shops to reconstruct the sequence. No arrests have been made, as the attacker is deceased, but investigations into potential accomplices or prior threats are underway.
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As Delhi Police bolster patrols in vulnerable areas ahead of Diwali festivities on October 20, community leaders are calling for enhanced counselling services and stricter enforcement against known offenders like Aashu. Women's rights groups, including the All India Women's Conference, have condemned the incident as emblematic of rising intimate partner violence, with NCRB reporting over 4,000 such cases in the national capital alone last year—a 15% uptick. Shalini's family, mourning the loss of a daughter and grandchild, seeks justice and closure, while Aakash's recovery offers a sliver of solace. This case serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for accessible support systems, from helplines like 181 to legal aid, to prevent personal vendettas from claiming innocent lives in the city's shadows.
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